"Introducing Raya" teaser drops on Yash's 40th birthday

A 2m51s teaser opens with a sex scene in a car outside a cemetery, then a bombing and gunfight at a funeral. It ends on the line "Daddy's home". The film was then dated 19 March 2026.

ConfirmedINGLOBALYash

Thumbnail of the official Toxic: Introducing Raya teaser. Image: KVN Productions (official YouTube channel), original.

Why it matters

The most-watched asset of the campaign, and the start of the arguments about its content.

Analysis

Details

Date: 08 Jan 2026 · T−230
Phase: Pre-launch › Trailer campaign
Category: Trailer & teaser
Markets: India, Global
Led by: Studio-led
Partners: Yash
Channels: YouTube, X, Instagram
Mechanics: Spectacle for social proof

Sources 2

Toxic: Introducing Raya | Rocking Star Yash | Geetu Mohandas | KVN Productions | Monster Mind CreationsKVN Productions (YouTube) · 08 Jan 2026 · youtube.com · PrimaryVerifies: Raya character teaser released on Yash's birthday
'Toxic' teaser out: Yash as Raya unleashes darker and fiercer gangster avatar on 40th birthdayThe Times of India · 08 Jan 2026 · timesofindia.indiatimes.com · SecondaryVerifies: Raya teaser contents; female leads' first-look posters released earlier

More from trailer campaign

09 Jan 2026 T−229

KVN claims 200M views and 5.5M likes in 24 hours

KVN Productions posted that the Raya teaser passed 200 million views and 5.5 million likes across platforms in its first day, under the hashtag

GLOBALReported

Studio-led

Studio claim reported by Cinema Express. No platform breakdown was given.

20 Feb 2026 T−187

Official teaser released a month before the planned March date

The teaser cut circus imagery against Yash's Raya, with the line "It's over when I say it's over". Versions went out in several languages, including Tamil.

INGLOBALConfirmed

Yash

The release date is from The Hindu; the image is the Tamil version on the official channel.

01 Jul 2026 T−56

Standout

"Ladies & Ladies" video puts the five actresses first

A promo opened with a disclaimer telling kids, parents and grandparents to stay away. It introduced Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi before Yash. It went out in English, Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.