Mumbai: The makers of director Geetu Mohandas’ eagerly awaited action entertainer ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’ on Tuesday released the stunning first look of actress Rukmini Vasanth from the film and revealed that she plays a character named Melissa in it.
The film marks Geetu Mohandas’s brilliant collaboration with Yash under his distinct cinematic vision. Known for her wit-driven performances and emotional depth, Rukmini’s introduction signals a performance that finds a place within Geetu’s layered, atmospheric storytelling and Yash’s ambition to make an Indian film that matches global standards in scale and offers a universal resonance in its story.
After unveiling the captivating first look of Kiara Advani as Nadia, Huma Qureshi as Elizabeth, Nayanthara as Ganga and Tara Sutaria as Rebecca, ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups’ deepens its scope with the introduction of Rukmini Vasanth as Melissa.
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Set against the backdrop of a lively, hazy party in the late 1960s, Melissa moves with an air of complete self-assurance. His expression is focused – a sharp, determined gaze that pierces the surrounding festive chaos. While the world around her is fluid and flowing, she remains focused, moving around the room while stepping on the floor.
Director Geetu Mohandas says, “The thing I admire most about Rukmini is her intelligence as an actor. She doesn’t just perform, she processes. She asks questions, not out of doubt but out of curiosity. It pushes me to think deeply and sometimes even my own choices as a director. Watching her work reminds me that intelligence on screen often lies in what is left unsaid.”
The director adds, “Between shots, I often find her writing quietly in her journal, capturing thoughts, little anecdotes from the set. Those moments say a lot about her process. She’s constantly building her inner world. I find her approach incredibly thoughtful, and sometimes, I honestly wish I could steal those pages and read them, just to understand the mind behind such a layered performance.”
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Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Geetu Mohandas, ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’ is being shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and several other languages ​​- underscoring its global ambition.
The film has a formidable technical team, including National Award winner Rajeev Ravi as cinematographer, Ravi Basrur on music, Ujwal Kulkarni on editing and TP Abid as production designer.
The high-octane action sequences have been choreographed by Hollywood action director JJ Perry (John Wick) along with National Award-winning duo Anbariv and Kecha Khamphakdi.
Venkat K under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations. Produced by Narayan and Yash, ‘Toxic’ is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on the long festive weekend of March 19 this year, coinciding with Eid, Ugadi and Gudi Padwa.