JJ Perry hails his collaboration with Yash and Geetu Mohandas as one of the most memorable experiences of his career, leading an all-Indian stunt unit for an unprecedented action schedule on Toxic.
While most productions pause during Mumbai’s heavy monsoons, the team behind Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups is charging ahead—using the rains to fuel its ambitious vision. The film’s Mumbai schedule has become the stage for what is being called one of the boldest action sequences in Indian cinema, helmed by acclaimed Hollywood stunt master JJ Perry, whose credentials include John Wick, Fast & Furious, and Day Shift.
Currently underway is a mammoth 45-day action shoot—an extended schedule rarely attempted in Indian filmmaking. But what makes this even more remarkable is Perry’s decision to move away from international stunt professionals and rely solely on an Indian stunt team. Having witnessed their skill and commitment first-hand, Perry insisted on giving them the spotlight for one of the film’s most challenging set pieces.
“This crew is top-tier. That’s the reason I wanted them,” Perry said. “We’re in the middle of a massive sequence, and I love the challenge. This team is fearless, inventive, and committed—we’re breaking new ground together.”
The sequence has been months in the making, involving detailed storyboarding, previsualization, combat rehearsals, and extensive creative discussions. This effort reflects the combined vision of Yash (lead actor and producer), director Geetu Mohandas, Perry, producer Venkat K Narayana, and the award-winning team at DNEG. The alliance between Yash and Narayana has played a crucial role in unlocking the budget and scale required to mount a film of this size and ambition.
More than just action for action’s sake, the team is working toward developing a fresh cinematic language—something visceral, immersive, and emotionally charged. “In my 35 years, I’ve filmed in nearly 40 countries,” Perry reflected. “Indian cinema is unique—bold, imaginative, and rich. Working with Yash, Geetu, Venkat, and this crew has been an absolute career high. Geetu’s vision is remarkable, and the whole team—from cinematographer Rajeev Ravi to the art department—has been nothing short of inspiring.”
Toxic also breaks new ground as the first large-scale bilingual to be shot simultaneously in Kannada and English. Alongside, the film will release in dubbed versions across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, making it a true pan-Indian as well as global cinematic event.
“India’s culture is vast and layered,” Perry added. “Blending that richness with global filmmaking techniques is exciting. I don’t want to repeat formulas—I want to create something original. And Toxic is the perfect canvas for that.”
Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups, backed by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, promises to be a daring blend of spectacle and storytelling. Audiences worldwide can catch it in theatres on March 19, 2026.
