Kamal Haasan criticizes box office obsession amid Toxic vs Dhurandhar 2 craze: 'System of marking has changed'

Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic have been garnering all the attention, leading fans to anticipate seeing the result at the box office. Amid this, Kamal Haasan criticised the box office obsession.

Kamal Haasan | Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar, Yash in Toxic

Dhurandhar: The Revenge (Part 2) and Toxic have been grabbing all the attention ever since it was announced that both films will hit cinemas on March 19. However, on March 4, the makers officially announced that Toxic has been postponed to June 4. While fans were super excited for the box office clash, the anticipation died down a bit as the films are releasing on different dates now. Amid this, Kamal Haasan criticised the box office obsession and shared that the system of marking has changed a lot.

What did Kamal Haasan say about box office obsession?

Kamal Haasan commented at a leadership conference in Tamil Nadu that the success of films today is judged more by box office numbers than by the art of filmmaking.

He said, “Now, they tell me I escape the marks. I have made my mark in the field. But now, the system of marking has changed. It is about how many crores you can make. That is my mark now. So, it is not about quality; it isn’t about how well I write my exam or what my content is… nobody reads my article. They just look at my collections. I still suffer under the same order, the hegemony that pushes me toward something I don’t care about."

The veteran star also emphasised that his focus is on achieving artistic excellence, whereas others are primarily concerned with financial outcomes. He explained that, in his view, the purpose of art is to challenge viewers – to comfort the uncomfortable and excite those who are already comfortable.

Also Read: Dhurandhar 2 outshines Toxic in advance booking in North America; Here's how much it earned

What did the Toxic team say about film postponement?

On March 4, Yash shared a statement from Toxic’s makers, which stated that Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups is a film they conceptualised with the vision to create cinema for a global audience.

"Filmed in Kannada and English, it is built with the conviction to connect with viewers both at home and across the world. After years of dedicated labour, we were excited to share our film with you all on the 19th of March. However, the current uncertainty, especially in the Middle East, has created a situation that impacts our goal to reach and connect with the widest possible audience," it read.

About Dhurandhar 2

Dhurandhar 2 (officially Dhurandhar: The Revenge), directed by Aditya Dhar and featuring Ranveer Singh, is an espionage thriller set to release on March 19, 2026. The film continues from the 2025 instalment, following undercover agent Hamza Ali Mazari as he rises in Pakistan’s underworld to take down ISI Major Iqbal.

Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic FAQs

Q: When is Dhurandhar 2 releasing?

A: Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 is going to hit cinemas on March 19, 2026.

Q: When is Toxic releasing?

A: The highly anticipated film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups is now scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on June 4, 2026.

Q: Where to watch Dhurandhar 2 online?

A: Dhurandhar 2 will be released on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) after its theatrical run.

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