The makers of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups have officially unveiled the film’s first song, Tabaahi.
So let’s dive straight into what Tabaahi gets right, because it certainly has its highlights.
Composed and sung by Vishal Mishra, with lyrics by Raj Shekhar, this romantic rock ballad has been generating buzz since its audio release in March 2026.
The song strikes an emotional chord with listeners due to its soulful vocals and impactful composition, quickly gaining traction across streaming platforms and social media. The praise for its powerful melody and emotional depth is well-deserved.
From the very first note, Vishal Mishra’s voice draws you in, evoking feelings even before you take in the visuals. In that aspect, Tabaahi is undeniably successful.
Yash promoted the song in various languages and included a quote from Rumi: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.” This beautiful caption sets the stage for a song about forbidden love, guiding listeners into the emotional space the Toxic team wants them to experience before hitting play.
Now, moving to the honest critique.
The Tabaahi music video is visually stunning but feels somewhat lacking in substance. One memorable moment is Yash’s shirtless appearance on a beach, shot with a painted-artwork-inspired aesthetic.
The cinematography effectively captures a moody atmosphere, dark palettes, stolen glances, and intimate frames that enhance the theme of forbidden love.
The choreography also adds to the video’s appeal, balancing the intense romance with breathtaking visuals, even if the audio itself isn’t quite exceptional.
However, there’s an important conversation that the promotional materials seem to overlook: what exactly does Kiara Advani contribute to this video? She looks beautiful and gazes at Yash with longing, but apart from that, her role feels minimal. She walks through carefully crafted scenes, draped and posed flawlessly, yet is given almost nothing to actively engage with.
While the video leans into sensuality and retains its emotional core, the intensity appears to belong exclusively to Yash. His expressions and physical presence dominate, making Tabaahi feel more like a showcase for him, with Kiara as the backdrop against which this showcase unfolds.
This portrayal might be more significant than it seems. Kiara Advani isn’t just a pretty face; she’s one of the most successful actresses in Indian cinema today, having demonstrated her talent in films like Shershaah, Kabir Singh, and Govinda Naam Mera.
Yash himself has mentioned the “badass” roles of women like Nayanthara and Kiara in Toxic, emphasising their depth. Yet, the Tabaahi video reduces Kiara to mere decoration, ignoring the equal emotional weight her character could have brought to the song.
This issue is not new; similar complaints arose with the Ladies & Ladies teaser, where the female ensemble looked stunning without meaningful context. Tabaahi seems to follow that pattern, relegating one of its talented actresses to a soft-focus love interest.
The chemistry between Yash and Kiara has received praise for enhancing the track’s passionate vibe, and while there’s warmth in their footage, chemistry requires active participation from both parties. Kiara is mainly asked to look stunning and gaze at Yash, which she does beautifully, yet she could have offered so much more.
In the larger picture, Tabaahi will likely achieve its commercial goals. Fans are eager to see Kiara in a new light alongside Yash, and early glimpses suggest a visually captivating love story. The song will generate the pre-release buzz that Toxic needs ahead of its worldwide release on 26 August 2026. In that sense, the video is successful.
However, for a film that promises its female cast is central to the story, the Tabaahi video doesn’t provide the evidence audiences need to believe it. The song itself is gorgeous, and Vishal Mishra deserves every stream it gets, but Kiara Advani deserved a better showcase than what Tabaahi offers.