Kiara Advani Discusses Toxic Trolling and Sidharth Malhotra’s Reaction on Koffee With Karan 9

Actor Kiara Advani recently addressed the severe social media backlash and personal attacks she faced following the release of the track Tabaahi from the film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. Appearing alongside her husband, actor Sidharth Malhotra, on an episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9 hosted by Karan Johar, Advani spoke candidly about how online critics targeted her career choices as a married woman and a mother.

Addressing the Online Backlash and Gender Double Standards

During the conversation, Johar pointed out a glaring double standard within the film industry, noting that married male actors are rarely subjected to identical moral policing for performing on-screen intimate scenes. When asked about Malhotra's response to the controversy, Advani clarified that her husband never even treated the matter as a topic for discussion. She stated that it did not affect him, that he did not care, and that he had never brought it up.

Advani added that she ultimately felt no need to issue a public justification because a significant portion of the internet had already started calling out the hypocrisy of the criticism. She noted that female actors have endured similar double standards for decades, citing senior figures like Aishwarya.

Disappointment Over Box Office Reception

Aside from addressing the online trolling, Advani spoke about the theatrical performance of Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Yash. Despite a strong initial start, the gangster drama failed to maintain its box office momentum, finishing its run with a collection of Rs 342.26 crore. Advani admitted that the underwhelming reception left her deeply disappointed.

She described the first weekend as heartbreaking, explaining that the cast and crew had not anticipated the film misfiring after such a strong opening. Despite the commercial shortcomings, she found encouragement in the positive appreciation for her performance, noting that stepping outside her comfort zone to play the role will be defining for her career journey.