Young actor Kabir Pahwa, who plays the younger version of Ticket in Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups, has opened up about filming one of the movie’s most demanding sequences.
The child actor performed an extensive underwater scene involving a car-drowning sequence, which he described as his favourite part of the film. According to Kabir, the challenging shoot required months of swimming preparation and took place in a pool approximately 17 feet deep.
In an exclusive interaction, Kabir recalled how Yash supported him during the filming process and ensured that his safety remained a priority throughout the difficult sequence.
“My favourite scene was the car drowning scene. I had continuous swimming classes for four months. It was a really nice experience for me under the water, and I gave it my best. Yash sir made sure that I would reach the water safely and I would go inside safely and made sure nothing happens to me,” Kabir said.
The sequence is particularly significant because Ticket forms an important part of the narrative in Toxic. While Yash portrays the adult version of the character, Kabir plays Ticket during his younger years.
Four Months of Swimming Training for the Underwater Sequence
Kabir revealed that he underwent swimming training for approximately four months to prepare for the demanding scene.
For a young actor, performing underwater action sequences presents obvious physical and technical challenges. The actor said he did not know how to swim before preparing for the role, making the extensive training an important part of his preparation.
The car-drowning sequence required Kabir to perform underwater in a deep pool, an experience that initially appeared to be a major challenge because of both his age and the complexity of the shoot.
According to Kabir’s account, the production initially considered using visual effects for parts of the sequence.
The decision was reportedly influenced by concerns about the depth of the pool and the demands of filming such a scene with a child actor.
However, Kabir’s confidence during the preparation reportedly changed the approach.
VFX Was Initially Considered for the Scene
Kabir recalled that the team had initially discussed completing parts of the sequence with the help of visual effects.
According to the young actor, he and the team were aware of the risks and difficulties involved in filming the scene practically. The pool was deep and the environment presented a demanding situation for someone of his age.
The initial plan, according to Kabir, was for him to enter the pool while the more complex aspects of the sequence would be completed using VFX.
However, his response after entering the water reportedly convinced the team to reconsider.
Kabir said he was determined to perform the sequence himself.
The underwater shoot was carried out under the guidance and supervision of stunt director J. J. Perry, while the production team prioritised the young actor’s safety during the process.
According to Kabir, his confidence helped persuade the team to move ahead with the practical version of the sequence.
“Yash sir asked, ‘Let’s do that, dude,’ and we did the scene in just one shot,” the young actor recalled.
Yash’s Support Made the Experience Easier, Says Kabir
Kabir also spoke about his bond with Yash and the support he received from the star during the filming of the difficult sequence.
Yash is associated with Toxic not only as the film’s lead actor but also as a co-writer and co-producer. According to Kabir, the actor remained attentive to his safety while the underwater scene was being filmed.
Kabir described Yash as his “favourite actor” and said the senior star ensured that he could enter and perform the sequence safely.
For a child actor undertaking such a physically demanding shoot, the presence of a familiar and supportive co-star can make a considerable difference to the overall experience.
Kabir’s parents also reportedly highlighted the bond between the two actors.
His mother said that Kabir was able to perform the sequence with confidence and that the young actor completed the required underwater shots himself.
“The bond between them is good. All the shots, close-up and everything, Kabir did on his own. There is no VFX. He did all the shots, drowning shots and going deep in the water,” Kabir’s mother said.
Kabir also agreed that Yash was present to support him and assist whenever required.
A Challenging Sequence for a Young Performer
Underwater filmmaking is technically demanding even for experienced performers.
Scenes filmed below the surface require careful planning, specialised supervision and extensive preparation. When a child actor is involved, safety measures and professional oversight become even more critical.
Kabir’s experience in Toxic reportedly involved months of preparation before the sequence was filmed.
His account of the shoot highlights the amount of training that can go into a relatively short but technically complicated moment on screen.
According to the young actor, the experience of working underwater ultimately became one of his favourite memories from the film.
The car-drowning scene stood out to him not simply because of its difficulty, but because of the preparation and confidence involved in completing it.
Director Geetu Mohandas and J. J. Perry Were Reportedly Impressed
Kabir said the scene received a positive response from those overseeing the production.
According to his account, stunt director J. J. Perry and Toxic director Geetu Mohandas were impressed with the way the sequence was performed.
The young actor’s ability to complete the demanding scene after months of preparation became one of the notable experiences from his work on the project.
Kabir’s parents also attributed the smooth completion of the sequence, in part, to the comfortable working relationship he developed with Yash.
That connection, they said, helped him approach the demanding shoot with greater confidence.
The sequence also represents a significant milestone for the young performer, who was required to take on a challenging physical role at an early stage of his career.
Kabir Plays Young Ticket in Toxic
In Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups, Kabir Pahwa plays the younger version of Ticket, a character whose adult version is portrayed by Yash.
The role places Kabir within an important part of the film’s narrative.
Although the young actor has worked on the film and performed one of its major underwater sequences, he has reportedly not watched the completed movie because of its ‘A’ certificate.
Despite not seeing the finished film, Kabir was still able to identify the car-drowning sequence as his favourite scene from the project.
His experience offers an insight into the work that went into bringing the younger version of Ticket to the screen and the preparation required for the film’s technically demanding sequences.
Kabir Pahwa’s Work Before Toxic
Before appearing in Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups, Kabir was seen as young Jayprakash in Raakh, a critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video series released earlier in the year.
His role in Toxic marks another significant project in his early acting journey.
The young actor’s involvement in the film has attracted attention because of the demanding nature of his underwater sequence and the preparation required to complete it.
For Kabir, however, the experience appears to have been both challenging and memorable.
From undergoing four months of swimming classes to filming inside a reportedly 17-foot-deep pool, the young actor faced a difficult technical challenge while working on one of the film’s key sequences.
His recollection of the experience also highlights the support he says he received from Yash throughout the shoot.
A Memorable Experience Behind the Camera
While audiences generally see only the finished sequence on screen, Kabir’s account offers a glimpse into the preparation behind the car-drowning scene.
Months of swimming lessons, specialised supervision and careful attention to safety were reportedly part of the process before the young actor completed the sequence.
According to Kabir, his confidence in the water eventually persuaded the team to move forward with the scene rather than relying on the visual-effects approach initially considered for parts of the shoot.
The result, from the young actor’s perspective, became his favourite sequence in Toxic.
And among the memories he has taken away from the project, one clearly stands out: the support he says he received from Yash.
“Yash sir made sure that I would reach the water safely and I would go inside safely and made sure nothing happens to me,” Kabir recalled.
For the young actor, the challenging underwater sequence was not just another day on a film set. It was an experience that required months of preparation, personal determination and the support of the people working around him.
