Rukmini Vasanth on Toxic: ‘Each of These Characters Is So Raw and So Human’

Mumbai: Rukmini Vasanth has opened up about her experience of working on Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, describing the Yash-led film as a project unlike anything she has taken on before.

Speaking at the film’s music launch in Mumbai, the actor discussed the scale of the upcoming film, the layered personalities at its centre and her experience of portraying Mellisa. For Rukmini, it was not simply the size and ambition of Toxic that drew her towards the project, but the morally complicated world created by director Geetu Mohandas.

Rukmini Vasanth says Toxic offered a completely different world

Rukmini said the film immediately stood out to her because of the expansive world it creates.

“Toxic is an incredibly special film for, I think, everyone who’s been a part of it, certainly for me,” she said. Reflecting on her first impression of the project, the actor added that the scale and expansiveness of the world were among the aspects that impressed her most.

However, the grandeur of Toxic was only one part of its appeal. Rukmini said the characters themselves were what made the film particularly intriguing.

According to the actor, the people inhabiting the story are not easily defined as simply good or bad. She described them as raw, human and morally grey, suggesting that the emotional complexity of the characters is an important part of what gives the film its distinctive identity.

‘Each of them is so raw and so human’

Speaking about the characters, Rukmini highlighted the “glorious grayness” running through the film.

“But there’s also, I think, even alongside the scale of it and alongside the grandeur of this world is the glorious grayness of each of these characters. Each of them is so raw and so human,” she said.

Her comments offer an indication of the kind of character-driven storytelling audiences can expect from Toxic. While the film has attracted attention for its large-scale presentation and ensemble cast, Rukmini’s remarks point towards a narrative in which the personalities and relationships between the characters are equally significant.

Discovering Mellisa was a major attraction

For Rukmini, one of the most interesting parts of the project was gradually discovering where Mellisa belonged within the larger story.

The actor said she was curious about how her character connected with the other people in the film and how their individual journeys were intertwined.

“I was so excited about the journey of discovering how Melissa fit into this world and what the rest of them related to each other like,” she said, adding that the way the different elements of the story were connected kept her curious throughout the process.

That sense of discovery appears to have been central to Rukmini’s approach to Mellisa. Rather than describing the character through a straightforward personality trait, she emphasised the uniqueness of the role and the experience of exploring a character unlike those she has played previously.

Rukmini Vasanth on sharing screen space with Yash

The opportunity to work with Yash was another major highlight for Rukmini.

The actor openly acknowledged being a fan of the star before joining the project. Sharing screen space with him therefore became an especially memorable part of her experience on Toxic.

“There’s also the matter of being a Yash Sir fan girl and then getting to share screen space. That was also incredible for me,” Rukmini said.

Her comments reflect the excitement surrounding the pairing, particularly as Toxic brings together performers from different corners of Indian cinema in a large-scale production.

‘It’s very unlike anything I’ve been able to take on before’

Rukmini was also asked how Mellisa compares with the characters she has portrayed in the past.

The actor made it clear that the role represents a significant departure from her previous work.

“It’s very unlike anything that I’ve been able to take on before. I think there’s a uniqueness and a certain je ne sais quoi about her,” she said.

That description makes Mellisa one of the more intriguing elements of Toxic, particularly for viewers familiar with Rukmini’s earlier performances. Her comments suggest that the role gave her an opportunity to explore a different emotional and dramatic space.

What is Toxic about?

Directed by Geetu Mohandas, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is an upcoming film headlined by Yash. The cast also includes Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria and Huma Qureshi.

The film has generated considerable interest because of its ambitious scale, distinctive visual world and ensemble cast. Rukmini’s latest comments add another dimension to that anticipation by drawing attention to the complicated relationships and morally ambiguous characters within the story.

Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26, 2026.