Toxic Actress Beatriz Taufenbach Deletes Instagram After Intimate Scene Backlash
A single scene from the teaser of Toxic has set off a storm, drawing Kannada superstar Yash’s next big project into legal and online scrutiny. Days after the teaser’s release sparked intense debate and formal complaints, the much-awaited film found itself at the centre of controversy. What began as chatter around a bold moment has now escalated into a wider discussion involving political groups, activists, and certification authorities.
The controversy erupted after the teaser, released on January 8, featured a brief but intimate car scene involving Yash and an unknown actress. The visuals quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions across social media platforms. While some viewers praised the film’s bold tone, others questioned the inclusion of such content in a mainstream Kannada film.
As curiosity grew over the identity of the actress, director Geetu Mohandas addressed the speculation through an Instagram Story, revealing that the woman seen in the teaser is Beatriz Taufenbach. Soon after the backlash intensified, the actress appeared to have deleted her Instagram account, adding fuel to the online discussion.
According to reports, Beatriz Taufenbach is a Brazilian model, actress, and singer who began her modelling career in 2014 before transitioning into acting. Her sudden disappearance from social media has been widely linked to the scrutiny and criticism she faced following the teaser’s release.
The issue took a legal turn when the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Women’s Wing filed a formal complaint with the Karnataka State Women’s Commission. In its submission, the party alleged that the teaser visuals are “obscene” and “explicit,” arguing that they adversely affect the social well-being of women and children while undermining Kannada cultural values. Following the complaint, the Commission asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take necessary action.
However, sources within the CBFC clarified that the teaser falls outside the board’s jurisdiction. Officials pointed out that the teaser was released exclusively on YouTube and not for theatrical exhibition. As per existing rules, certification is mandatory only for films and trailers intended for cinema halls, while online promotional content shared on digital platforms does not require CBFC clearance.
Adding to the controversy, social activist Dinesh Kallahalli also submitted a formal complaint to the CBFC, objecting to what he described as “obscene, sexually explicit, and morally offensive” scenes in the teaser. In the complaint addressed to CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi, he stated that the Toxic teaser contains “scenes that are grossly obscene, sexually explicit, and vulgar in nature.”
“The said trailer is being widely circulated on various social media platforms without any effective restriction, thereby exposing the general public including minors and young persons—to content that is legally impermissible and socially harmful,” he stated.
As the debate continued to dominate social media, director Geetu Mohandas responded to trolls and critics with a cryptic Instagram Story that read: “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc., etc.” Her remark drew both support and criticism, with many interpreting it as a defence of the film’s creative choices.
While a section of the internet questioned the relevance of the controversial scene in the teaser, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma came out in support of Mohandas, praising her for taking a bold stand and pushing cinematic boundaries.
Toxic features an ensemble cast including Nayanthara, Rukmini Vasanth, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, and Tara Sutaria. Despite the mounting controversy, the film remains slated for a March 19 release, where it is expected to clash at the box office with Dhurandhar Part 2.
The controversy erupted after the teaser, released on January 8, featured a brief but intimate car scene involving Yash and an unknown actress. The visuals quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions across social media platforms. While some viewers praised the film’s bold tone, others questioned the inclusion of such content in a mainstream Kannada film.
As curiosity grew over the identity of the actress, director Geetu Mohandas addressed the speculation through an Instagram Story, revealing that the woman seen in the teaser is Beatriz Taufenbach. Soon after the backlash intensified, the actress appeared to have deleted her Instagram account, adding fuel to the online discussion.
According to reports, Beatriz Taufenbach is a Brazilian model, actress, and singer who began her modelling career in 2014 before transitioning into acting. Her sudden disappearance from social media has been widely linked to the scrutiny and criticism she faced following the teaser’s release.
The issue took a legal turn when the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Women’s Wing filed a formal complaint with the Karnataka State Women’s Commission. In its submission, the party alleged that the teaser visuals are “obscene” and “explicit,” arguing that they adversely affect the social well-being of women and children while undermining Kannada cultural values. Following the complaint, the Commission asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take necessary action.
However, sources within the CBFC clarified that the teaser falls outside the board’s jurisdiction. Officials pointed out that the teaser was released exclusively on YouTube and not for theatrical exhibition. As per existing rules, certification is mandatory only for films and trailers intended for cinema halls, while online promotional content shared on digital platforms does not require CBFC clearance.
Adding to the controversy, social activist Dinesh Kallahalli also submitted a formal complaint to the CBFC, objecting to what he described as “obscene, sexually explicit, and morally offensive” scenes in the teaser. In the complaint addressed to CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi, he stated that the Toxic teaser contains “scenes that are grossly obscene, sexually explicit, and vulgar in nature.”
“The said trailer is being widely circulated on various social media platforms without any effective restriction, thereby exposing the general public including minors and young persons—to content that is legally impermissible and socially harmful,” he stated.
As the debate continued to dominate social media, director Geetu Mohandas responded to trolls and critics with a cryptic Instagram Story that read: “Chilling while people figure out female pleasure, consent, women playing systems, etc., etc.” Her remark drew both support and criticism, with many interpreting it as a defence of the film’s creative choices.
While a section of the internet questioned the relevance of the controversial scene in the teaser, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma came out in support of Mohandas, praising her for taking a bold stand and pushing cinematic boundaries.
Toxic features an ensemble cast including Nayanthara, Rukmini Vasanth, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, and Tara Sutaria. Despite the mounting controversy, the film remains slated for a March 19 release, where it is expected to clash at the box office with Dhurandhar Part 2.
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