Kiara Advani has opened up about two challenging aspects of her experience with Yash-starrer ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’: the backlash over her intimate scenes and the film’s unexpected performance at the box office.

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The actor, who faced criticism for stepping into a role that took her beyond her usual on-screen image, has now spoken about how her husband, Sidharth Malhotra, reacted to the controversy. She also reflected on the disappointment of watching the film struggle commercially despite a strong opening.

Kiara Advani says Sidharth Malhotra was not bothered by the intimate scenes

‘Toxic’ attracted considerable attention for its portrayal of masculinity, its themes and its adult content. Kiara, in particular, faced scrutiny over the intimate scenes in the film, with sections of the audience questioning her decision to take on the role.

During her appearance on ‘Koffee with Karan’ Season 9, the actor was asked about Sidharth’s response to the scenes. Kiara said her husband did not make an issue of it and that they had never even discussed the matter.

“I fed off his energy because he had not cared about it. He never even brought it up. We have never even spoken about this. It didn’t affect him, nor was he bothered about it,” she said.

Kiara also pointed out that actresses have faced similar scrutiny for decades. Referring to the online reaction, she said she did not feel compelled to defend her decision or explain her performance.

“Besides, such things (criticisms) have been happening for decades, and many wonderful actors have faced them, starting with Aishwarya Rai. When I saw what was going on the internet… There was a massive reaction. People had already started calling out the ‘hypocrisy.’ So, I really didn’t feel the need to justify it,” she added.

Kiara Advani on ‘Toxic’ box-office failure: ‘I was very low’

The actor also addressed the film’s commercial performance, admitting that its disappointing run came as a shock to the team. Despite a strong opening, the film reportedly failed to sustain its momentum in the days that followed.

Kiara said the team had not anticipated the film’s reception and recalled feeling particularly upset during its opening weekend.

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“As a team, I don’t think any of us saw it coming when the movie misfired despite it opening to what it did. It was heartbreaking, especially during the opening weekend. I was very low,” she said.

However, the actor also found encouragement in the appreciation she received for taking on a role outside her comfort zone. She believes her performance as Nadia could become an important part of her career.

“But then I noticed a lot of appreciation for me stepping out of my comfort zone. I think this (Toxic and her role as Nadia) would be defining in my journey,” she added.

How did ‘Toxic’ perform at the box office?

‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’, headlined by Yash and featuring Kiara Advani, reportedly opened to over Rs 100 crore worldwide. However, the film struggled to maintain its initial momentum and finished its theatrical run with collections of around Rs 300 crore worldwide, according to the figures cited in reports.

The film’s performance was a disappointment against the expectations surrounding the project. For Kiara, however, the experience also brought recognition for attempting a different kind of role and pushing beyond her established screen image.