Nayanthara’s Ganga in Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is more than the fierce woman seen in the film’s promotional material. The actor says she found a strong personal connection with the character, whose strength comes not from being outspoken but from the experiences that have shaped her.

Speaking to Variety, Nayanthara said Ganga’s personality was one of the aspects that drew her to the role. “Ganga is a character I felt very connected to. Yes, she is fierce and strong, and I think that’s what you see immediately in the promos. But there’s so much more to her than that,” she said.

According to the actor, Ganga’s resilience is rooted in her life experiences and the choices she makes rather than a need to constantly assert herself. Nayanthara added that she has always been drawn to women who can hold vulnerability, emotion and strength together. “I’ve always been drawn to women who have that kind of strength—who can be vulnerable, emotional and powerful at the same time. In many ways, I relate to that personally, too. Life teaches you that strength doesn’t always have to announce itself,” she said.

Nayanthara had previously revealed that she was initially hesitant about joining Toxic, despite her long association with director Geetu Mohandas. It was Geetu’s narration of the script that eventually changed her mind and convinced her to take up the role.

Released on August 26, Toxic stars Yash in the lead in dual roles, Raya and Ticket, with Nayanthara playing Ganga. The Geetu Mohandas directorial also features Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles. The film is set against the backdrop of Goa in the years preceding its liberation and follows a world of crime, power and shifting loyalties.

The film opened to considerable box-office interest but has also sparked mixed reactions from audiences and critics, making conversations around its characters and performances particularly prominent in the days following its release.