Gautam Ghattamaneni, the son of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar, has become a topic of discussion among movie fans after his Letterboxd rating for Yash’s Toxic attracted attention on social media. Gautam reportedly gave Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas, just 0.5 stars out of five on the film-rating platform.
The rating gained traction because Toxic is one of the major Indian releases of 2026 and features Yash in the lead role. The film was released on August 26 and has generated mixed reactions among viewers and critics. Gautam’s half-star rating became particularly noticeable after screenshots and references to his Letterboxd profile began circulating online.
Gautam’s film ratings have attracted attention beyond his opinion of Toxic. His Letterboxd profile reportedly contains more than 400 films across different industries, languages and genres. His ratings suggest that he has developed a broad interest in cinema rather than limiting his viewing choices to Telugu films or movies featuring members of his family.
His ratings for Mahesh Babu’s films have been among the most discussed aspects of the profile. Gautam reportedly awarded five stars to Pokiri and 1: Nenokkadine. The latter is particularly notable because Gautam appeared in the film as a younger version of his father’s character. At the same time, several other Mahesh Babu films received considerably lower scores.
According to reports based on his Letterboxd ratings, Gautam gave Nijam and Vamsi two stars each, while Brahmotsavam received one star. Other Mahesh Babu films have received different scores, showing that his ratings are not uniformly positive simply because his father stars in them. This has led some fans to describe his ratings as an indication of personal and independent film preferences.
The contrast between the five-star ratings for Pokiri and 1: Nenokkadine and the one-star rating for Brahmotsavam has also contributed to the online discussion. Rather than appearing to give every Mahesh Babu film a favourable score, Gautam’s profile shows a range of opinions.
His taste also extends to films outside Telugu cinema. Reports have highlighted high ratings for movies such as Sholay, Baahubali 2, Project Hail Mary and other titles from different industries. His profile therefore appears to reflect the viewing habits of a young film enthusiast who watches movies across genres and languages.
The attention surrounding the Toxic rating has also raised a broader question among social media users about whether the children of film stars should be expected to support every movie made by their parents or other prominent actors. Some online reactions have treated Gautam’s ratings as an example of personal honesty, while others have criticised or questioned some of his choices. These reactions are part of the social media debate and do not represent a formal review from Gautam beyond the ratings displayed on the platform.
Toxic itself has received varied reactions since its theatrical release. The film, officially titled Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, is directed by Geetu Mohandas and stars Yash in the lead role. Its ambitious scale, period setting, action sequences and visual presentation have been discussed extensively, while opinions about its storytelling and overall execution have differed.
Gautam’s 0.5 star rating should therefore be viewed as his personal assessment rather than an indication of the film’s overall critical or audience reception. A rating on Letterboxd represents an individual user's response to a movie and does not establish whether a film is objectively successful or unsuccessful.
Interestingly, Gautam has also given strong ratings to other recent releases. Reports based on his profile indicate that he awarded four stars to Lokesh Kanagaraj’s DC, while The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day received higher ratings. His ratings for different films show considerable variation depending on the movie.
The discussion has also brought renewed attention to Letterboxd as a platform where movie enthusiasts maintain personal film diaries, ratings and reviews. Unlike conventional professional reviews, Letterboxd ratings are generally personal expressions of a viewer’s opinion. Users can rate films across a five-star scale, allowing their viewing history to become a record of their individual cinematic preferences.
For Gautam, the sudden attention surrounding his profile comes at a time when public interest in his personal and professional life has also increased. Mahesh Babu recently marked Gautam’s 20th birthday with a social media message expressing pride in his son and encouraging him to pursue his dreams with courage and kindness.
The viral discussion over Gautam’s Toxic rating does not appear to be connected to any official statement from Mahesh Babu or the makers of Toxic. It is primarily based on the ratings displayed on Gautam’s Letterboxd profile and the reactions that followed after fans discovered them.
As the conversation continues online, Gautam’s ratings have become a point of interest for both Mahesh Babu fans and wider film audiences. The most notable aspect is not simply the 0.5 star given to Toxic, but the broader pattern of ratings across hundreds of films. His willingness to give both high and low scores to movies featuring his father has led many viewers to examine his profile as an example of an individual film enthusiast developing opinions independent of family connections.
Ultimately, Gautam Ghattamaneni’s rating for Toxic is a personal movie opinion. While it has generated significant discussion online, it should not be treated as an official review or as a definitive assessment of Yash’s film. The debate mainly highlights the different ways audiences respond to films and how personal ratings can quickly become a topic of public discussion when they involve members of prominent film families.