The controversy surrounding Toxic‘s first song Tabaahi continues to spark debate, but Huma Qureshi believes the film itself will provide the strongest response to the criticism. After Kiara Advani became the target of online backlash over her intimate scenes with co-star Yash, Huma has spoken out against what she sees as a clear double standard in the way male and female actors are judged.
The discussion gained momentum after many social media users questioned Kiara’s choices as a married woman and new mother, while Yash, who is also married, faced comparatively little criticism for appearing in the same scenes. Huma says the reaction reflects a larger societal mindset that still treats women differently from men.
Huma Qureshi Calls the Criticism “Disgusting”
During an appearance on Yuvaa’s Be A Man, Yaar!, host Nikhil Taneja pointed out that Kiara Advani had received significantly more criticism than Yash despite both actors sharing the same on-screen moments. Reacting to the conversation, Huma strongly condemned the online response and suggested there was little value in trying to convince people through arguments alone.
Sharing her thoughts, Huma said, “It’s sick. It’s disgusting, absolutely. But I think women in this film, the actresses and the directors will have the last laugh. There’s no point in trying to defend something at all because you can’t change people’s mindset with words. I would just let the film do the talking.”
Her brother and actor Saqib Saleem also reacted to the trolling, saying, “kaun hai yeh log? (who are these people?) I think the world is a very kind place, but the internet is not.” Their comments have added to the growing conversation about the unequal standards often applied to actresses compared to their male counterparts.
Tabaahi Song Triggered Online Debate
The backlash began shortly after Tabaahi, the first song from Toxic, was released. The music video featured several romantic and intimate moments between Yash and Kiara Advani, leading to criticism directed largely at Kiara across social media platforms.
As the debate intensified, the discussion moved beyond the actress’s performance and expanded into her personal life. Many online users began commenting on her marriage with Sidharth Malhotra, with similar remarks appearing under the actor’s Instagram posts. What started as criticism of an on-screen performance soon evolved into speculation and judgment about the couple’s relationship, drawing criticism from many within the film industry.
The controversy has also reignited conversations about gender bias in entertainment, with several fans questioning why actresses are often scrutinized more heavily than male actors for performing similar scenes required by a script.
Benedict Garrett Also Defended Kiara
Huma Qureshi is not the first member of the Toxic team to defend Kiara Advani. Earlier, British actor Benedict Garrett, who also appears in the film, addressed the issue in a video shared online and questioned why the criticism appeared to target only one actor.
He said, “You see, Yash, he’s also married, he also has children. So why is only the woman getting the abuse, while the man apparently gets the applause? Listen, here’s the reality check. They are actors. Their job is to act, to portray characters, to make you believe that they are in love, even when they’re not. Their job is to tell stories that reflect the human experience.” He later captioned his post, “The backlash over the Tabahi music video says far more about society than it does about either actor.”
Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups marks Yash’s return to cinemas after the blockbuster KGF franchise. The film features an ensemble cast including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi, making it one of the year’s most anticipated releases. Scheduled to hit theatres worldwide on August 26, the action drama has already generated significant attention, and judging by the ongoing conversations surrounding Tabaahi, public interest in the film continues to grow ahead of its release.
