Nayanthara Says She Initially Turned Down Toxic, Praises Yash’s Dedication and Geetu Mohandas’ Vision

Nayanthara has revealed that she was initially hesitant about joining Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, but a narration from director Geetu Mohandas changed her mind. The actor also praised Yash’s extraordinary commitment to the film and said his larger-than-life personality is visible even away from the camera.

The trailer of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups has given audiences a closer look at the dark and ambitious world surrounding Yash’s character, Raya. At the trailer launch, Nayanthara spoke candidly about her experience of working on the film and revealed that she was not immediately convinced about taking up the project.

The actor, who plays Ganga in the film, also had high praise for Yash, describing his dedication to the project as something she had rarely witnessed during her career.

Nayanthara says Yash is much like Raya in real life

Nayanthara jokingly referred to Yash as “Rocky bhai” while discussing his personality and said the larger-than-life quality audiences see in the trailer is not entirely limited to his on-screen persona.

She praised his work ethic in particular, saying she had never seen an actor work with the same level of commitment.

According to Nayanthara, Yash devoted several years to the project and made significant sacrifices in his personal life while working on the film. She highlighted the time he spent away from his family and said his focus remained firmly on making Toxic the best possible film.

For Nayanthara, Yash’s commitment extended beyond his own performance. She also credited him with caring about the cast and crew and supporting director Geetu Mohandas throughout the production.

The actor said she had developed enormous respect for Yash not only as a performer but also as a husband and family man. She further praised the honesty and hard work that she believes have contributed to his position in the industry.

Why Nayanthara initially said no to Toxic

Despite eventually becoming an important part of the film, Nayanthara revealed that her first reaction to the project was hesitation.

The actor explained that she is generally cautious about films featuring a large ensemble of actors. With Toxic involving several prominent performers, she initially felt that the project might not be the right fit for her.

When Geetu Mohandas approached her, Nayanthara said she initially declined the offer. However, the director continued the conversation and eventually persuaded her to listen to the complete narration.

That narration changed everything.

Nayanthara said she was immediately struck by Geetu’s storytelling and wondered why she had not encountered a filmmaker like her earlier. The actor expressed confidence that audiences would experience something distinctive when they watch the finished film.

Her comments also underline the importance of the screenplay and director in her decision to join the project. Despite her initial reservations about the ensemble cast, the story and Geetu’s approach ultimately convinced her.

Nayanthara plays Ganga in Toxic

In Toxic, Nayanthara takes on the role of Ganga, a character connected to the film’s larger world of crime, power and complicated relationships.

The cast also includes Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth, alongside Yash.

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is positioned as a dark, stylised drama with a world that moves beyond conventional commercial cinema.

The trailer has particularly drawn attention to Yash’s intense screen presence, while the film’s ensemble cast has added to anticipation surrounding the release.

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on August 26, 2026.