Toxic star Sudev Nair on Yash birthday surprise for him, Geetu Mohandas direction and his role Karmadi: ‘Much harder discipline than…’

Toxic actor Sudev Nair opens up about playing Karmadi, working with Yash and Geetu Mohandas, and the advice that changed his perspectiveRead the exclusive interview

Published: August 26, 2026, 2:21 PM IST

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Toxic actor Sudev Nair on working with Yash and Geetu Mohandas (PC: Instagram)

Yash’s Toxic has been one of the most widely discussed pan-India films of 2026, and Sudev Nair is set to be part of the much-awaited project as KarmadiThe highly anticipated film Toxic marks Yash’s return to the big screen after his KGF franchise success with an estimated budget of Rs 500 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. While the actor is keeping details about his character firmly under wraps, he has opened up about what went into the role, his experience of working with director Geetu Mohandas and his time on set with YashIn an exclusive with India.com, Sudev Nair spoke about why he chose Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, the unusual way he prepared for the film, and the advice from Yash that stayed with him, and more. 

Sudev Nair on why he said YES to Toxic 

For Sudev Nair, joining Toxic was less about weighing up an offer and more about keeping a long-awaited promise with Geetu MohandasHe also explained how his early success shaped his approach towards choosing roles. 

The actor also shared why he said YES to Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups“There wasn’t much of a decision involvedGeetu Mohandas had been telling me for years that we had to work together, from the time she watched the Thuramukham rushesPeople say that at screenings all the time and forget it by dinnerShe actually calledWhen someone keeps a promise for that many years, you don’t sit there weighing your options”, revealed Sudev. 

He shared that winning the Kerala State Award for his first Malayalam film – My Life Partner came with its own pressure, as the recognition arrived before he had the chance to prove himselfHe added that the experience made him wary of safe choices and motivated him to take on roles that challenge him rather than repeat something he has already done. 

Sudev Nair on his character Karmadi in Toxic  

Sudev Nair has not revealed much about his character Karmadi, but he has shared three words that gives a small glimpse into his character“QuietWatchfulUnderestimated.” Rest, fans can see for themselves in the theatres what his role Karmadi is all about. 

Sudev Nair on working with Yash in Toxic 

Talking about his experience with Yash, Sudev highlighted the actor’s willingness to share what goes into his craftHe also recalled a memorable birthday celebration on the Toxic set and revealed the advice Yash gave himHe explained, “The thing that stays with me is that he doesn’t keep his craft to himselfHe’ll tell you what he’s doing, why he’s doing it, where the traps are and how he gets around themOnly a genuinely secure person hands that over, and it’s much rarer than people assumePlenty of stars are warm and accessibleThat’s not the same thing as being generous with what actually makes you good.”  

Sudev further revealed the best memory was his birthday on setHe said that his instinct in those situations was to shrink and keep it small, without making it anybody’s businessHowever, Yash did not allow him to do thatHe made a whole thing of it in front of everyone and made sure that Sudev was celebrated. 

He said, “Yash kept telling me to stop being apologetic about being good. I’d spent years being told the opposite by almost everybody, so hearing it from him rearranged something.” 

How Geetu Mohandas shaped Sudev Nair’s approach to Karmadi?  

Sudev revealed that Geetu Mohandas’s direction for Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups pushed him towards a more restrained approach to KarmadiInstead of searching for big emotional moments, he had to focus on how the character carried himself on screenHe said that what he got instead was two years of somebody working on how he occupied a frameHe added that the style, ease, and charisma were all the things that made an actor watchable for the audienceMost of the directors treated that as either present or absent, but Geetu Mohandas treated it as something that could be built 

He explained, “The difference in approach with Karmadi is restraintIn earlier work, I’d have looked for the moment where the character opens up and shows you everythingGeetu kept steering me away from thatShe wanted him held, and held, and held. It’s a much harder discipline than performing, and it changed how I think about the job. She’s still convinced she went easy on me, which is a separate argument I’ve stopped trying to win.” 

While the physical preparation was not as difficult as one might expect, Sudev described the mental preparation for Toxic as the most demanding he has experiencedGeetu’s decision to give him the script in fragments meant he had to approach the character differently 

Sudev Nair reveals his biggest takeaway from Toxic  

For Sudev Nair, his time on Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups set was not just about actingHe said watching Yash interact with everyone on the set changed the way he thinks about success and leadershipHe revealed, “The bigger you get, the more room you make for everyone around youI watched the biggest star in the country to make everyone on that set feel like an equal, every day, without ever announcing that he was doing itTwo years of that changes your idea of what success is supposed to look like.”