Nayanthara had some of the warmest words for Geetu Mohandas at the Bengaluru trailer launch of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. While the actress is usually selective about film promotions, she made a special exception for Toxic and used the occasion to speak not just about the film, but about the filmmaker who she believes has created something truly extraordinary.
Nayanthara revealed that her decision to be part of Toxic was initially not an easy one. The actress admitted that she is often apprehensive about films with a large ensemble, and when Geetu first approached her, she wasn't immediately convinced. “When she called me for this film, I wasn't sure because it's a lot of actors in the film and I'm usually a little careful or maybe a little apprehensive about choosing a film where there are a lot of actors,” Nayanthara said. But everything changed when Geetu narrated the script to her.
The actress recalled being stunned by the filmmaker's vision after hearing the narration. “From the moment she narrated it to me, I was like, ‘Who is this woman? Who is this director that we have not seen? You are going to witness something incredible,’” Nayanthara said. And after watching the trailer, she believes audiences have only seen a fraction of what Geetu has created. “You have seen the trailer. I know it's amazing, but you still haven't seen the film. It's going to blow your minds. It's really going to be incredible,” she added.
However, Nayanthara's biggest admiration for Geetu wasn't limited to her abilities as a director. She spoke passionately about the filmmaker as a person, particularly the way she cared for every actor on the sets of Toxic. “Everyone's spoken about how good you are as a director, the kind of vision that you have, everything. But the woman that you are, the way you took care of each and every actor, the way you gave love when everyone needed you,” Nayanthara said.
The actress then recalled a particularly emotional moment from the shoot that perfectly captured Geetu's sensitivity. Nayanthara remembered how the team was going through a difficult situation when Geetu briefly stepped into an actor's caravan before returning. Curious about what had happened, Nayanthara asked her if she had lost control of her emotions or said something she shouldn't have. Geetu's answer left the actress amazed: “No, I just gave love.”
For Nayanthara, those four words said everything about the director. “I was amazed at this woman and the kind of deep sensitivity that she has towards each and every actor that she's worked with,” she said. She went on to describe Geetu's relationship with her cast in an especially beautiful way: “She just owns them. I think everyone's going to agree with me.” It was the kind of praise that went beyond filmmaking technique and spoke directly about the trust and emotional bond Geetu built with her actors.
Nayanthara also expressed her love for the entire Toxic family, praising co-stars Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. She revealed that she formed a close friendship with Huma during the shoot, while also congratulating Kiara and telling her that she believes Toxic could become one of the best films of her career. Her affection for the ensemble reflected the unusual camaraderie that appears to have developed behind the scenes.
Interestingly, Nayanthara also admitted that Yash played a major role in bringing her to the trailer launch. “It's not that I don't want to attend promotional events. It's just that I'm not very good at it, so I stay away from it. But this was special,” she said. “I think it's just Yash. He just made a call and it was enough for me to just attend the event.” Her presence at the event, therefore, became another reflection of how strongly she feels about the film and the people behind it.
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups brings together Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth in an ambitious gangster drama directed by Geetu Mohandas. Jointly produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film was shot simultaneously in Kannada and English and is scheduled to release worldwide on August 26, 2026.
For Nayanthara, though, Toxic is clearly more than another film in an impressive career. It is a project that introduced her to a filmmaker whose vision she believes audiences are yet to fully experience. And her most heartfelt description of Geetu may well be the simplest: “You are amazing, Geetu. There's so much more to say, but I think we all just love you.”