Actress Nayanthara has publicly praised Geethu Mohandas, the director of the upcoming action thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown Ups, calling her ‘amazing’ and crediting her rare emotional sensitivity toward every actor on set. Nayanthara, who plays a pivotal role in the film, made the remarks at the trailer launch event held recently in Bengaluru.

What Nayanthara Said at the Trailer Launch

Speaking directly to Mohandas at the event, Nayanthara said: “I think everyone’s spoken about how good you are as a director, but the woman that you are, the way you took care of each and every actor, the way you gave love when everyone needed you.” She added that the cast went through “good moments, bad moments, tough moments” during production, and that Mohandas was consistently present — “holding their hands, walking with them, and doing the best you could.”

The Caravan Moment That Stood Out

Nayanthara recounted a specific incident on set that encapsulated Mohandas’s approach. After a particularly demanding shot, the director — herself emotionally affected — walked into an actor’s caravan to offer comfort rather than compose herself first. When Nayanthara asked what had happened, Mohandas replied simply: “I just gave love.”

“I was amazed at this woman and the kind of deep sensitivity that she has towards each and every actor she’s worked with,” Nayanthara said. She also noted that co-star Huma Qureshi had told Mohandas “I love you” — a spontaneous expression, Nayanthara suggested, of the bond the director forges with her cast.

About Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown Ups

Toxic features a powerhouse ensemble including Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, and Huma Qureshi. The film has been written by Yash and Geethu Mohandas and directed by Mohandas, who is known for her earlier directorial work in Malayalam cinema. It was shot in Kannada and English and has been dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and other languages.

Produced by KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, the film is scheduled to release in theatres on 26 August this year — positioning it as one of the most anticipated multilingual releases of the season.

Mohandas: Actress Turned Director

Geethu Mohandas made her acting debut in Malayalam films before transitioning to direction. Her directorial work has previously drawn attention for its character-driven storytelling and emotional authenticity. Toxic marks her most commercially ambitious project to date, with a pan-India release and a cast that spans Bollywood and South Indian cinema. The effusive praise from a star of Nayanthara’s stature adds significant pre-release momentum to the film.