Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups appears to be heading towards the final stretch of its theatrical run but the film’s commercial troubles may not end with its box office performance. After opening strongly and then witnessing a sharp slowdown amid negative word-of-mouth, the Geetu Mohandas directorial is now reportedly facing a steep decline in the value of its post-theatrical rights.
The film, which was mounted on an estimated Rs 500 crore budget, was expected to generate a significant return from its digital deal. But the latest reports suggest that the gap between what the makers were expecting and what OTT platforms are currently willing to pay has widened considerably.
Toxic OTT Rights: From Rs 200 Crore Expectations To A Reported Rs 30 Crore Offer
According to recent reports, the makers had previously received a Rs 150 crore proposal from a leading OTT platform before the film’s theatrical release. However, the team was reportedly looking for more than Rs 200 crore for the digital rights.
A source close to Bollywood Hungama said, “The Toxic team had an offer of Rs. 150 crores from a leading platform, but the demand from the team was a lot higher, north of Rs. 200 crores. Yash was confident that the film would do blockbuster business in theatres, and that in turn, would boost the post-theatrical OTT prices to Rs. 200 crore plus. But the results are exactly opposite, as the digital players are now offering an amount as low as Rs. 30 crore for the post-theatrical streaming rights for all languages.”
The reported fall is significant because the makers’ original expectations were tied to the belief that a strong theatrical performance would increase the film’s value in the digital market. With Toxic struggling to meet those expectations, the reported OTT valuations have moved in the opposite direction.
Can A New OTT Cut Change Toxic’s Streaming Fate?
The digital release could now get a different version of the film. The makers are reportedly exploring a fresh edit, particularly because of the film’s adult-oriented storytelling.
“The makers are now contemplating a completely new edit for the digital version, with the hope of fetching a bigger amount than what’s on the table. The discussions are underway to figure out a way to reduce the losses, one of which is a new cut for OTT,” the source revealed.
If the plan goes ahead, the OTT version could become an important part of the makers’ strategy to limit the financial impact of the theatrical setback. Rather than simply taking the theatrical version to streaming, the team is reportedly looking at whether changes to the edit could make the digital release more commercially viable.
How Much Has Toxic Earned At The Box Office?
Despite its difficult run, Toxic has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark in India. According to the latest figures reported by Sacnilk, the film has recorded an India net collection of Rs 246.21 crore and an India gross of Rs 293.84 crore so far.
As of Day 13, the film is reportedly running across 1,065 shows and has collected Rs 0.46 crore live today. Its final India collections are yet to be reported.
What Is Toxic About?
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups is a period gangster action drama set against the backdrop of Goa. The film follows Yash in the lead, with Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth also playing key roles.
Toxic has been produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations.
