‘I don't like stereotyping women in a box...’ Kiara Advani shares why she couldn't say no to ‘Toxic’

With ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’ gearing up for its theatrical release, Kiara Advani has shared what made her sign one of the most talked-about projects of her career.

The actress revealed that it wasn't just the scale of the film that drew her in, but the depth of the character and the way director Geetu Mohandas brought the story to life during the narration.

In an interview with Femina, Kiara recalled being immediately impressed after listening to the script. According to her, Geetu Mohandas' storytelling left a lasting impact and convinced her that the role was unlike anything she had done before.

“When I finally heard the narration, I was mesmerised by how well fleshed out this character was,” she said.

Kiara explained that the role offered her the chance to explore a wide range of emotions within a single character. From strength and vulnerability to madness, sensitivity, detachment and emotional complexity, she said the part challenged her in ways she had been looking for.

Calling it “all the meat an actor longs for,” the actress added, “I felt I had reached a place in my career where I was confident enough to take on such a character.”

Also Read: Is this Yash, Kiara’s hottest on-screen pairing yet? WATCH Toxic’s first song ‘Tabaahi’ 

She also spoke about the importance of writing layered female characters instead of limiting them to familiar stereotypes.

“I don't like stereotyping women in a box. We are so much more than that, so why shouldn't our characters be,” Kiara said, adding that women on screen deserve to be portrayed as strong, realistic and multifaceted individuals.

The actress also had praise for her female co-stars, saying that working with Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth made the experience even more memorable.

Describing the collaboration as “incredibly refreshing,” she said, “Every woman brought her own energy and individuality to the film. I think audiences will enjoy seeing such distinct female characters share the same cinematic universe. There were days on set when you could genuinely feel that everyone was pushing boundaries to create something unique. Those are the moments that remind you of why you fell in love with cinema in the first place.”

Written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas and directed by Mohandas, ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’ is an action thriller centred on a father-son rivalry.

The film has been shot simultaneously in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions planned in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and several other languages.

After multiple changes to its release schedule, ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’ is now set to arrive in cinemas worldwide on August 26, 2026.