Explainer: Yash's Toxic, Rishab Shetty's Kantara prequel in legal trouble, here's all we know

Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre has picked up the cudgels of his department and is leading action against two film teams – Rocking Star Yash’s Toxic and Rishab Shetty’s Kantara prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1. The makers of Toxic, including KVN Productions and Yash’s Monster Minds Creations, received a show cause notice about alleged illegal tree-felling, while Hombale Films is facing legal hurdles over the alleged use of explosives in forest areas.

Here’s the complete low-down on the ‘forest issues’ faced by the teams of Toxic and Kantara: Chapter 1

Toxic: Illegal tree-felling at forest land in Bengaluru

In October 2024, state forest minister Eshwar Khandre alleged that hundreds of trees had been illegally felled in the forest land of the Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) area in Bengaluru. The Karnataka Forest Department had filed an FIR against the team of Toxic under section 24 (g) of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, citing that the team of Toxic had illegally cut trees on forest land in the Peenya plantation survey number 2 to erect film shooting sets.

In a newer development, the team of Toxic has been issued a show-cause notice in this matter. Minister Khandre explained that even though an attempt was made in 2020 to get the forest land held by HMT denotified, the Interlocutory Application (IA) filed in the Supreme Court for the same was done without Cabinet approval. Khandre has proposed withdrawal of the Interlocutory Application and action against those responsible for the tree felling.

Also read: Toxic Birthday Peek: Director Geetu Mohandas called out for objectification of women in glimpse from Yash's film 

Kantara Chapter 1: Disturbance in forest area with the use of explosives

Filmmaker-actor Rishab Shetty and production house Hombale Films are also in the cross-hairs of the forest department, after it was alleged that the team of Kantara: Chapter 1 has not only been shooting within core forest areas, as against the permitted grazing zone, but also used explosives, which disturbs the environment and could heighten man-animal conflict.

Also read: Kantara Chapter 1 first look - Five highlights of the new smashing teaser dropped by Rishab Shetty and co. 

According to a former member of the Heruru Zilla Panchayat, where the shooting location Gavi Betta is situated, the team is alleged to have violated shooting permissions. The team of Kantara: Chapter 1 is said to have obtained permission to shoot for 23 days in the grazing zone, for which conditional approval had been allotted.

Minister Khandre has ordered department officials to inspect the shooting spot and report on any violations. If the team has violated conditions, officials have been directed to stop the shoot immediately.