Toxic Teaser Controversy Deepens as Actress Beatriz Taufenbach Deactivates Instagram

The teaser of the much-anticipated film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups has triggered a major controversy, with criticism mounting over a graphic scene featured in the promotional video. The sequence, showing lead actor Yash alongside a woman inside a car near a cemetery, has drawn strong objections from political leaders and social activists, who have termed it obscene and inappropriate.

The woman seen in the controversial scene has been identified as Ukrainian actor and model Beatriz Taufenbach. Following the backlash, Beatriz has deactivated her Instagram account. Users attempting to access her profile are now greeted with the message, “Profile isn’t available,” indicating that the account is no longer active.

Initially, the identity of the actress in the teaser led to confusion, with some reports mistakenly attributing the role to another actor. The matter was later clarified by the film’s director Geetu Mohandas, who took to social media to confirm Beatriz Taufenbach’s involvement. Sharing a photograph, the director referred to her as the film’s “cemetery girl,” putting an end to the speculation.

Political reactions to the teaser were swift. On Monday, the women’s wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lodged a formal complaint with the Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSWC), demanding immediate action against what they described as obscene content. The party also called for the teaser to be taken down from public platforms.

In a letter submitted to the commission, AAP state secretary Usha Mohan stated that the explicit visuals could have a harmful impact on women and children. She further alleged that releasing such scenes without age-related warnings degrades the dignity of women and insults Kannada culture.

Following the complaint, the KSWC reportedly wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), urging the board to take “appropriate action” regarding the teaser’s content. Adding to the pressure, social activist Dinesh Kallahalli also filed a separate complaint with the CBFC, objecting to what he termed obscene, sexually explicit, and morally offensive scenes in the teaser.

Despite the growing backlash and formal complaints, the makers of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups have not yet issued an official response. Meanwhile, the controversy continues to generate intense debate across social media and industry circles, placing the spotlight firmly on the film ahead of its release.