Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups has been creating significant buzz ever since its announcement, and the trailer released has only heightened anticipation. Among the film’s ensemble cast is Rukmini Vasanth, who plays the glamorous and stylish Mellisa. At the trailer launch in Bengaluru, the actress opened up about her experience working with director Geetu Mohandas and co-star Yash. Rukmini revealed how the challenging film and character pushed her to grow as an actor. She also shared how Yash made the experience even more meaningful for her.
Rukmini Vasanth on working with Yash and Geetu Mohandas
Rukmini Vasanth spoke warmly about her experience working with Geetu Mohandas, describing the filmmaker as an “indomitable director.” Talking about the filmmaker’s contribution to her performance, Rukmini said, “Thank you for being a constant presence, for holding my hand through this film and this complex, difficult character. Thank you for never letting go, but as you held my hand, constantly pushing me to go further, constantly demanding more.” The actress then expressed gratitude for how much the experience had helped her grow professionally and personally.
Rukmini also had special words for her co-star , revealing that her equation with the actor evolved significantly during the making of Toxic. “There is so much that I could say about what an artist you are and what a star you are, but what has stayed with me from the beginning and what will stay with me, I hope, through my career is how I walked onto this set as a fangirl, but you invited me to be a collaborator,” she said.
Rukmini Vasanth in Toxic
The actress thanked Yash for his generosity and for giving her the confidence to contribute creatively to the film. “It’s a spirit that I will take on to every set that I work on, so that I can also be a strong collaborator and contributor to a film,” Rukmini added. She concluded her comments by expressing her admiration for Radhika Pandit, actress and Yash’s wife, by saying, “Radhika ma’am, I’m a huge fan. I love you.”
Rukmini Vasanth’s transformation As Mellisa
Rukmini has been introduced in as Mellisa, a glamorous, stylish and sultry character. The role marks another interesting addition to the actress’s growing filmography and showcases a noticeably different side of her on screen.
The actress was previously seen as Princess Kanakavathi in Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1. For Toxic, however, she has undergone a major transformation to fit into Geetu Mohandas’ period gangster world.
Back in January, Geetu had shared her appreciation for Rukmini’s acting process on social media. The filmmaker praised the actress for her intelligence and her ability to process a character rather than simply perform it.
Yash in Toxic
Geetu had also highlighted Rukmini’s curiosity as an actor, explaining that the actress constantly asks questions and pushes herself to understand her character more deeply. According to the director, Rukmini’s approach even challenges her own creative decisions and encourages her to think more deeply as a filmmaker.
Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups is a period action drama set across the 1940s and 1970s in Goa. The film explores a bloody and action-packed gangster saga, with Yash playing the central character Raya. The recently released 4-minutes and 38-second trailer offered a glimpse into the film’s lavish world, featuring intense action, violence, romance and complicated relationships. Alongside Yash and Rukmini, the film stars Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Nayanthara and Huma Qureshi. Toxic is being released in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.
Produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, Toxic: A Fairytale For Grown-Ups is slated for a grand theatrical release on August 26.