Manish Malhotra on Kiara Advani's Toxic look: 'A fabulous journey'
Synopsis
Manish Malhotra’s tribute to his Toxic collaboration is more than a fashion post — it signals how deeply costume design is being woven into the film’s identity. With Yash in a dual role and a director like Geetu Mohandas at the helm, the visual language of Toxic is clearly being crafted with as much intent as its story.
Key Takeaways
Manish Malhotra designed all costumes for Kiara Advani ’s character Nadia in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups .
The collaboration spanned from the film’s first schedule in Bengaluru to production in Mumbai .
Advani’s standout look is a classic black velvet lace saree from Malhotra’s signature collection, styled by Lakshmi Lehr .
Advani thanked Malhotra publicly during Hyderabad promotional events for the film.
Toxic , directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Yash in a dual role, is set to release on 26 August 2026 .
Celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra has described his experience creating looks and costumes for actress Kiara Advani's character Nadia in the upcoming action thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups as “a fabulous journey,” offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the film’s visual world ahead of its 26 August 2026 theatrical release.
The Look That Started the Conversation
Malhotra shared images of Advani draped in a classic black velvet lace saree — part of his signature #mymmsaree collection — that quickly drew attention online. In the photographs, the actress wore the ensemble with statement earrings, hair pulled into a sleek high bun, and minimal makeup, projecting an air of understated sophistication. Styling credits went to Lakshmi Lehr.
In his post, Malhotra wrote: “Beautiful always @kiaraaliaadvani Ravishing in Our velvet lace classic black saree .. It’s been a fabulous journey of designing Kiara’s look and costumes for the character Nadia that she plays in Toxic from the first schedule in Banglore to mumbai .. working on this film is a going to be a memory that we all will look back with a smile.”
From Bengaluru to Mumbai: A Film-Long Collaboration
Malhotra revealed that his association with Toxic began during the film’s first schedule in Bengaluru and extended through production in Mumbai. The collaboration, he noted, spanned the full arc of the shoot, making it one of his more immersive recent film projects. Director Geetu Mohandas and the production team — anchored by lead actor Yash — were credited by Malhotra in his post.
Kiara Advani’s Hyderabad Promotions
As part of the promotional tour for Toxic, Advani visited Hyderabad, where she shared moments from the city and reflected on the reception the film received. In a video post, she thanked the city for its energy and warmth during the promotional stretch.
Advani wrote: “Hyderabad, you were Everything! Thank you for celebrating Toxic with us and making our promotions so special. The love, energy and madness will stay with me! A special thank you to my dearest @manishmalhotra05 for creating this beautiful saree for me, and for bringing his magic to Toxic through Nadia’s costumes. And to my Toxic family.. what a ride!”
About the Film
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas, features Yash in a dual role alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth. The film is slated to release in cinemas on 26 August 2026, and the designer-actress pairing is already generating pre-release buzz around its visual aesthetic.
Point of View
Blurring the line between fashion editorial and film marketing. Whether the film’s substance matches its visual ambition remains to be seen when it opens on 26 August.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manish Malhotra’s role in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups?
Manish Malhotra designed all looks and costumes for Kiara Advani’s character Nadia in the film. His collaboration with the production began during the first schedule in Bengaluru and continued through Mumbai.
What saree did Kiara Advani wear in the Toxic promotional look?
Kiara Advani wore a classic black velvet lace saree from Manish Malhotra’s signature #mymmsaree collection. The look was styled by Lakshmi Lehr and featured statement earrings and a sleek high bun.
When does Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups release?
Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is scheduled to release in cinemas on 26 August 2026. The film is directed by Geetu Mohandas and stars Yash in a dual role alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth.
Who are the other cast members in Toxic besides Kiara Advani?
The film stars Yash in a dual role as its lead, with Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles. It is directed by Geetu Mohandas.
What did Kiara Advani say about Manish Malhotra during the Hyderabad promotions?
Kiara Advani publicly thanked Malhotra during her Hyderabad promotional visit, writing that he brought ‘his magic to Toxic through Nadia’s costumes.’ She called the saree he created for her ‘beautiful’ and credited him for elevating her character’s visual identity.
