Hero, Gangster, Villain: How Yash Is Reinventing Himself Beyond Rocky Bhai with Toxic and Ramayana| Special Report

, Bhubaneswar: For nearly a decade, Yash's cinematic identity was inseparable from Rocky Bhai – the swaggering, long-haired, bearded gangster who turned KGF into one of India's biggest box-office phenomena. That image earned him pan-India superstardom but also risked trapping him in a single template.

Now, with the trailer of Ramayana: Part 1 and the promotional campaign of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, Yash appears determined to do the opposite. Ironically, in one film he remains a gangster who headlines the story as its hero. In the other, he willingly steps into perhaps Indian mythology's greatest antagonist – Ravana.

The two projects have generated equal measures of applause and criticism, making 2026 arguably the defining year of Yash's post-KGF career.

Leaving Rocky Bhai Behind

Few stars have had a bigger image burden than Yash after KGF Chapter 2, which grossed nearly Rs1,200 crore worldwide and established Rocky Bhai as a cultural phenomenon.

Instead of chasing another KGF-style entertainer, Yash has chosen two dramatically different worlds.

In Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas, he plays Raya, a gangster navigating Goa's murky underworld. In Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, he portrays Ravana, the mythical king of Lanka.

One is contemporary crime. The other is mythology.

One makes him the protagonist. The other casts him as the antagonist.

Yet both characters inhabit morally grey spaces.

Ravana: The Villain Who Refuses to Be One-Dimensional

The biggest surprise has been Yash's decision to play Ravana instead of waiting for another heroic role.

At the recent Ramayana trailer launch in New Delhi, the loudest cheers arguably belonged to Yash despite him portraying cinema's principal villain. Fans greeted him with chants of "Rocky Bhai", underlining how enormous his fan following remains.

Yash has explained that Ravana fascinated him because of the character's psychological complexity rather than his villainy. Instead of portraying a cardboard evil king, he wants to present a layered ruler driven by intelligence, ambition, ego and tragedy.

That approach has won appreciation from audiences looking for more nuanced storytelling.

His involvement goes beyond acting.

Through his banner Monster Mind Creations, Yash has partnered as co-producer with VFX powerhouse DNEG, signalling that he wants to shape ambitious Indian cinema rather than merely headline it.

But Ramayana Hasn't Escaped Criticism

The praise, however, has been accompanied by criticism.

Early visual glimpses triggered online complaints that portions of the VFX looked artificial or AI-generated. Yash publicly urged audiences to wait, stressing that visual effects evolve continuously until release.

Another disappointment for his fans stems from reports that Ramayana: Part 1 focuses primarily on Lord Ram's early journey.

If those reports prove accurate, Ravana reportedly appears for barely 10-15 minutes, leaving many Yash fans waiting until Part 2 for a full-fledged performance.

Toxic: A Gangster Unlike Rocky Bhai

If Ramayana distances Yash from conventional heroism, Toxic attempts to separate him from Rocky Bhai.

The transformation begins with his appearance.

Gone are the flowing locks and rugged beard.

Instead, Yash sports a sharply trimmed, sleek, urban look. Behind-the-scenes glimpses even reveal him clean-shaven for another avatar reportedly named "Ticket", fuelling speculation of a dual role.

The makeover has become one of the film's biggest talking points.

Equally refreshing for many viewers is Geetu Mohandas directing a large-scale gangster drama through what Yash himself has described as a "female gaze"—a perspective rarely associated with Indian commercial action cinema.

Rather than promising endless gunfights, Yash has repeatedly described Toxic as a psychological exploration of crime and power within Goa's underworld.

Toxic's Own Share of Controversy

Yet Toxic has attracted sharper criticism than Ramayana.

The teaser faced backlash over its stylised violence and the perceived objectification of women, with several viewers pointing out that female characters appeared largely silent while being visually sexualised.

Co-star Kiara Advani also became the target of online trolling after the release of the song "Tabaahi", prompting members of the production to call out what they viewed as gendered double standards.

Production issues added another layer of uncertainty.

Repeated postponements fuelled rumours of massive reshoots and budget overruns before the makers officially denied those claims and locked August 26 as the release date.

Reinventing the Sound of a Superstar

The contrast extends beyond visuals.

Toxic embraces an urban musical identity with tracks like Tabaahi and Manamohaka, blending romance, psychological tension and contemporary beats.

Ramayana, meanwhile, pursues orchestral grandeur.

The collaboration between Hans Zimmer, A.R. Rahman and sitar virtuoso Rishab Rikhiram Sharma represents one of the most ambitious musical line-ups ever assembled for an Indian film.

While cinephiles have welcomed the global scale, some traditionalists remain cautious that Hollywood-style orchestration should not overwhelm the spiritual essence of the epic.

The RS2,500-Crore Gamble

Industry projections suggest Toxic could target ₹700–1,000 crore globally.

Ramayana: Part 1 is widely expected to aim even higher, with trade circles projecting a ₹1,500-crore-plus worldwide potential.

Combined, the two films represent a box-office gamble exceeding ₹2,500 crore in expectations.

But the financial stakes tell only half the story.

More Than a Superstar

Yash's greatest challenge is no longer proving he can deliver a blockbuster.

It is proving he can escape one.

Rocky Bhai made him a national icon. Raya seeks to reinvent him as a psychological anti-hero. Ravana asks audiences to embrace him as mythology's most celebrated antagonist.

For most superstars, becoming the hero is the aspiration.

For Yash, 2026 is about something more difficult—convincing audiences that a hero can also be a gangster, a villain, a producer, and still remain India's next global cinematic force. 

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