Yash and Kiara Advani’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups is reportedly facing a major setback on the digital front after its disappointing theatrical performance. The Geethu Mohandas directorial is struggling to finalise its OTT deal, with the streaming rights now reportedly being offered for as little as Rs 30 crore. This marks a steep drop from the valuation the makers had been seeking before the film’s release.
The report states that the makers had earlier received an offer of Rs 150 crore for the streaming rights but turned it down while looking for a much higher price. The team was reportedly expecting the OTT deal to cross Rs 200 crore on the back of a strong box office run.
Toxic OTT Deal Faces A Massive Drop
According to the report, the makers of Toxic were confident that Yash’s star power and the film’s big-ticket scale would translate into blockbuster theatrical business. That performance, in turn, was expected to push the post-theatrical streaming valuation beyond Rs 200 crore. The box office response has instead worked in the opposite direction.
With the film struggling in cinemas, digital platforms have reportedly lowered their offers considerably. The current offer is said to be as low as Rs 30 crore, which is five times lower than the Rs 150 crore proposal that the makers had previously rejected. The report identifies Zee5 as the platform that has made the biggest offer so far, although the OTT deal is still reportedly proving difficult to close.
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Why Toxic’s OTT Recovery Has Become Difficult
One of the major challenges is the film’s A-rated content. According to the report, this means Toxic has no satellite recovery, leaving the makers with fewer avenues to recover the film’s investment outside theatrical and digital revenues. The film’s theatrical performance has also fallen well short of the expectations attached to a major Yash-led project.
Pinkvilla describes its box office run as disappointing, while its earlier reporting noted that the movie struggled to connect with audiences after its opening. That combination has made the post-theatrical business particularly challenging. Instead of commanding the premium valuation the makers had hoped for, the streaming rights are now reportedly being discussed at a dramatically reduced price.
Toxic Makers Plan A Fresh OTT Edit
The makers are reportedly considering another strategy to improve the film’s prospects on streaming. According to the report, the Toxic team has decided to re-edit the movie and create a fresh version specifically for its OTT audience. The new edit is expected to be used as a selling point while negotiating with streaming platforms. Whether that approach can help the film secure a stronger deal remains to be seen.
For Yash, the development comes after Toxic opened strongly but subsequently witnessed a sharp decline in theatrical momentum. Pinkvilla’s box office reporting noted that the film’s collections fell considerably after its opening, contributing to what has become a difficult financial outcome for the project.
Final Take
Toxic is facing an unexpected OTT challenge after its underwhelming theatrical run. A previously rejected Rs 150 crore streaming offer has reportedly been replaced by offers as low as Rs 30 crore, with Zee5 said to have made the biggest bid. The makers are now looking at a fresh OTT edit in the hope of improving the film’s digital valuation.
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