Rukmini Vasanth has reflected on her experience working on Toxic, saying the film taught her an important lesson about collaboration and creating an environment where every member of a team can contribute.
Speaking at a star-studded event for the film, Rukmini was asked by anchor Danish Sait whether she was “suffering from success” following another major addition to her filmography. Rather than focusing on career milestones or the scale of her latest project, the actor said she considers the opportunity to work with talented and generous people one of her biggest achievements.
“I think I’ve been incredibly successful in interacting with some immensely talented and generous people,” she said. “So many of the people that I’ve had the chance to collaborate with. That is something that I feel I’ve been very, very successful in.”
Her comments set the tone for the rest of her speech, during which she acknowledged the director, cast, producer and technical crew behind Toxic.
Rukmini Vasanth Praises Director Geetu Mohandas
Rukmini began her address in Kannada before switching to English as she welcomed members of the media from different parts of the country.
One of her first acknowledgements was for director Geetu Mohandas, whom she described as “the unstoppable director that we have.”
Rukmini thanked Geetu for helping her navigate what she described as a complex and difficult character. According to the actor, the filmmaker pushed her to explore the role further while continuing to support her throughout the process.
“As you held my hand, constantly pushing me to go further and demanding more, I’ve grown so much,” Rukmini said.
Her remarks highlighted the creative relationship between an actor and director and the role of constructive challenges in developing a demanding performance.
‘I Walked Onto This Set as a Fangirl’: Rukmini on Yash
Rukmini also had special words for Yash, with whom she worked on Toxic. She recalled joining the project as an admirer of the star but said Yash gave her an opportunity to participate as a creative collaborator.
“I walked onto this set as a fangirl, but you invited me to be a collaborator,” she said.
For Rukmini, that experience became one of the lasting lessons from Toxic. She said being treated as a collaborator showed her the importance of building a filmmaking environment in which people feel comfortable contributing their ideas and perspectives.
She added that she hopes to take that approach into the films she works on in the future.
Rukmini Vasanth Thanks Radhika Pandit and Producer Venkat K Narayana
Rukmini also addressed Radhika Pandit during the event, expressing her admiration in a brief but affectionate message.
“I’m a huge fan. I love you,” she said.
The actor then congratulated producer Venkat K Narayana and thanked him for the kindness he had shown her from their first meeting. She also appreciated his attention to the filmmaking process, saying it contributed to making the experience enjoyable.
Her comments reflected the collaborative nature of the production, with Rukmini repeatedly shifting attention away from individual achievements and towards the people who helped shape the film.
Rukmini Calls Technicians the ‘Backbone’ of Toxic
Before concluding her speech, Rukmini acknowledged cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, the writers, cast members and the numerous technicians and production professionals who worked behind the scenes.
She described the technical crew, production teams and catering staff as “the backbone of our film” and “the scaffolding on which we all stood.”
The acknowledgement underlined the contribution of people whose work often remains outside the spotlight despite being essential to the completion of a large-scale film.
Rukmini Hopes Audiences Feel the Same Joy
Rukmini concluded by thanking everyone involved in creating what she described as “a space of growth and joy” during the making of Toxic.
Rather than defining the film purely through its scale or commercial expectations, her speech centred on the relationships and creative experiences she gained while working on it.
Her reflections also offered a glimpse into how she views professional success: not only through films and recognition, but through the opportunity to learn from talented collaborators and contribute meaningfully to a shared creative process.
