Rukmini Vasanth has found strong support online after a section of social media users began targeting her over an intimate sequence in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. While the Geetu Mohandas directorial has received a mixed response since its theatrical release on Wednesday, discussions around Rukmini’s character Mellisa have taken an unexpected turn, with fans calling out what they describe as a disturbing sense of entitlement towards the actor.

Rukmini appears as Mellisa, one of the women in Yash’s Raya’s story, and enters the narrative considerably later than the other female characters. Her character initially approaches Raya with an intention to harm him, but their relationship eventually turns romantic. While the film does not show an explicit love-making sequence between the two, their intimacy is suggested, and the story later establishes that they have a child together.

The scene nevertheless prompted a section of viewers to question Rukmini’s choice of role. Some social media users expressed disbelief that the actor, whom they associated with a particular image of modesty, had taken on such a part. One post described her as “wife material” and claimed that viewers could not reconcile her perceived “purity” with the role she plays in Toxic. Memes and comments mocking or expressing distress over the scene also surfaced online.

Her fans, however, were quick to challenge the trolling. Pointing out that the film does not feature Rukmini in an explicit intimate scene, one X user argued that the criticism was unnecessary and accused those commenting of seeking attention.

Many criticised the audience’s tendency to impose a “pure” or “wife material” image on female actors and then object when they take on roles that challenge those perceptions. Several users also called out the parasocial nature of the reaction, arguing that viewers have no right to expect an actor to seek their approval before making career choices. Others mocked the outrage and urged Rukmini to continue taking on unconventional roles, turning the criticism into a broader conversation about the policing of women’s choices on screen.

Toxic, which also features Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi and Tara Sutaria, has divided audiences since its release. Despite the mixed critical response, the Yash-starrer has reportedly crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in India and Rs 140 crore worldwide.