‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ has put Geetu Mohandas in the spotlight as audiences react to the film’s dark world and unconventional gangster drama. The Yash-starrer has also sparked strong discussions on social media, with the director receiving both praise and criticism for her filmmaking choices.But long before ‘Toxic’, Geetu Mohandas had already built a respected career spanning acting, writing and direction. Her journey from a child artist to a filmmaker helming a major pan-India project is an interesting story in itself.

From child artist to award-winning actress

Geetu Mohandas began her film journey as a child artist at the age of five with the Malayalam film ‘Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare’ in 1986. Her performance earned her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist. She later took on lead roles and acted alongside Mohanlal in ‘Life Is Beautiful’ in 2000.She got her big break in 2004 with ‘Akale’, for which she won the Kerala State Film Award and Filmfare Award for Best Actress. After establishing herself as an actress, Geetu Mohandas eventually moved towards filmmaking, where she found a new creative identity.

Geetu Mohandas’ journey as a director

Geetu Mohandas made her feature directorial debut with ‘Liar’s Dice’ in 2013. The film won two National Film Awards and was selected as India’s official entry for the 87th Academy Awards. She next directed the Nivin Pauly-starrer ‘Moothon’ in 2019. The Malayalam-Hindi crime drama received acclaim for its storytelling and performances.Her films have often explored darker subjects and complex characters, and ‘Toxic’ represents her biggest production so far. Starring Yash, the film takes a stylised and unconventional approach to the gangster genre, marking a major step forward in her career.

Geetu Mohandas teased fans with Yash comparison

During the promotions of ‘Toxic’, Geetu Mohandas gave fans an insight into the cinematic mix she wanted to create with Yash. She revealed, “Yash showed me ‘Padayappa’. I showed him ‘In the Mood for Love’. ‘Toxic’ will be a blend of these two.”The statement quickly attracted attention because it brought together two vastly different cinematic styles.Her confidence in the film and its unusual treatment had already created curiosity ahead of its release. Now that ‘Toxic’ has reached theatres, the response to Geetu Mohandas’ vision has become a major talking point. Whatever the final verdict may be, her journey from actress to filmmaker has brought her to a much larger stage, where every creative choice is being closely watched.