‘I am sad; I felt bad’: ‘Toxic’ actor Yash explains why he skipped fan’s funeral; says he feared encouraging suicide for attention
Yash has developed a large following through films including ‘KGF: Chapter 1′ and ‘KGF: Chapter 2’.As Yash is all set for the release of ‘Toxic’, he has explained why he chose not to attend the funeral of a 25-year-old fan who died by suicide in Karnataka in 2021. The actor said he was concerned that his presence could send the wrong message to others.The fan had reportedly expressed a final wish involving Yash and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. While Siddaramaiah attended the funeral, Yash stayed away.Years after the incident, Yash has now spoken about the reasoning behind his decision. During an appearance on ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, the actor said he did not want his actions to create the impression that taking an extreme step could lead to attention from a favourite celebrity.
Yash explains his decision
Yash said his decision came from the possibility that other fans could interpret his attendance differently. He explained, “Mujhe laga agar mein karunga, toh bohot logon ko yeh lag sakta hai ki aise karne se aa jayega. Woh mindset wrong hai. Uska marne ke baad uska funeral mein jaake, kya milega? If I encourage that… I don’t know; that was my thought. I am sad; I felt bad. But agar mein jaake woh karunga toh aur bohot saare log kar sakte hain. I don’t think that is…”(“I felt that if I did that, many people might think that doing something like this would make me come. That mindset is wrong. What would I gain by going to his funeral after his death? If I encourage that… I don’t know; that was my thought. I am sad, and I felt bad. But if I go and do that, many more people might do the same. I don’t think that is…”)Yash also acknowledged that the incident affected him emotionally. However, he felt that attending the funeral could unintentionally establish an unhealthy precedent.
Yash prefers positive fan interactions
The actor also spoke about how he would like to connect with his supporters. Yash expressed a preference for meeting fans who achieve something positive in their lives.
What happened to Yash’s fan in 2021?
The incident took place in Mandya district in Karnataka. A 25-year-old man identified as Ramakrishna died by suicide at his residence in Kodidoddi village.According to reports, Ramakrishna was a devoted fan of Yash and Siddaramaiah. A note was reportedly found after his death.The note allegedly described his life as a failure. It also mentioned his wish for Yash and Siddaramaiah to attend his funeral.Siddaramaiah later attended the funeral. Yash decided not to be present.
Yash had earlier expressed his grief
Following Ramakrishna’s death, Yash publicly reacted to the incident. The actor expressed his sadness and said that such an act was not what he expected from his fans.Yash had written on Twitter, “We actors live to hear your whistles and claps and love that you shower on us. This is not I expect from you (fans),”Meanwhile, Yash is preparing for his upcoming film ‘Toxic’. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the movie is one of the major projects in the actor’s current lineup.‘Toxic’ is scheduled to release in theatres on August 26, 2026. The film marks Yash’s next major release after the ‘KGF’ franchise.
