
Suriya's Retro tanked at box office because of 'paid negative campaign'? Director Karthik Subbaraj makes SHOCKING claim
Suriya 's action-packed film Retro managed to generate massive hype among fans before its release. However, it witnessed a flat box office response after hitting the big screens, which was quite an unusual fate for a film directed by Karthik Subbaraj.
And now, the filmmaker has opened up on his side of the story and made some shocking claims about what actually might have panned out for the film's failure.
Karthik Subbaraj tags 'paid negative campaign' behind Retro's failure
During an interview with Galatta, Karthik Subbaraj blamed 'paid hatred' and 'negative campaigns' as the deciding factor for most films' success or failure. He cited the example of his film, Retro, and revealed how he got to know that every actor has an enemy camp on social media.
In his words, 'Even I heard from somebody that every actor has an enemy camp on Twitter, they are paid to run a campaign and discredit someone who shares good things about a film. Not just that, they have an office, and they get paid for it.'
Karthik Subbaraj found Retro's negative reviews 'shocking'
Moving on, the filmmaker looked back at the result of Retro, which fell victim to a malicious negative campaign. He expressed his shock at his film getting many negative reviews, while on the contrary, people told him they liked it.
He said, 'Everyone whom I spoke to liked the film, they told me they are confused as to why the film got negative reviews. This paid campaign is very dangerous, and it is very shocking.'
Retro's underwhelming box office collection after its theatrical run
Speaking about Retro's box office collection, it ended its theatrical run after failing to hit even the Rs. 50 crore mark across Tamil Nadu. While the movie saw an initial boost on opening day, it fell significantly within the next couple of days.
Retro's OTT release and verdict
After a disappointing run in the theaters, Retro was released on Netflix for its OTT run from May 30 onwards. It began airing with a promising note, and audiences poured in their reviews shortly after.
Despite a disappointing record at the box office, the romantic action thriller was successful on OTT. Viewers felt that the first half, interval block, and massy scenes were tailored to perfection and justified the hype.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Kuberaa' box office collections day 1: Dhanush-Nagarjuna thriller opens strong with Rs 13 cr; Dominates Telugu market
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Dhanush and Nagarjuna's much-anticipated thriller drama 'Kuberaa' has opened to a strong start at the box office/ The movie has collected an impressive Rs 13 crore (India net) on its first day. Kuberaa Movie Review According to early estimates from Sacnilk, the multilingual film has performed especially well in the Telugu-speaking regions, giving it a solid launchpad for the weekend. Telugu version leads the charge 'Kuberaa' saw a remarkable occupancy rate in its Telugu version, registering an overall 57.36% occupancy across theatres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Hyderabad recorded an outstanding 67% overall occupancy, with night shows touching 88% across 530 shows. according to the reports. Kuberaa Review: Dhanush & Nagarjuna Deliver Fireworks | Rashmika's Surprise Act | Fans React Moderate response in Tamil and low in other languages The Tamil version of 'Kuberaa' recorded a fair overall occupancy of 33.73% on Friday. While morning and afternoon shows were relatively lower, night shows picked up with a 47.46% occupancy, particularly in Chennai. The night occupancy reached 89% in Chennai. However, the film's reach was limited in other languages. In the Kannada version, the film saw only a 6.54% overall occupancy, and the Hindi version saw a slightly better 6.73%, with night shows reaching just over 10%. The Malayalam version recorded minimal traction with an overall occupancy of only 2.32%. Positive signs ahead The film's pan-Indian release strategy appears to have paid off, at least in the Telugu and Tamil belts. Strong nighttime occupancies and buzz around the star power of Dhanush and Nagarjuna suggest 'Kuberaa' could see a significant jump over the weekend. If the momentum continues, Kuberaa might just become one of the surprise box office successes of mid-2025. ETimes gave the movie a rating of 3.5 stars and our review reads, "Where Kuberaa falters is in its pacing. The first half takes its time to build the world—perhaps a little too slowly."


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Sitaare Zameen Par' box office collection day 1: Aamir Khan starrer takes the reins by minting Rs.11.7 crore across all languages on Friday; beats Akshay Kumar's ‘Housefull 5' by a huge margin
One of 2025's highly anticipated films, 'Sitaare Zameen Par', finally made its way to the theatres on June 20. The film, headlined by Aamir Khan and Genelia D'Souza, opened to positive reviews from critics and the audience alike, has been able to make a decent mark at the box office as well. According to industry tracker Sacnilk's early estimates, Sitaare Zameen Par made Rs. 11.7 crore across all languages on its opening day. Sitaare Zameen Par Movie Review With these numbers, the movie has outperformed its successor 'Taare Zameen Par,' which made an opening of Rs 2.62 crore back in 2017. Sitaare Zameen Par box office update According to rough data, the major earnings of the movie came from the Hindi version, which minted Rs. 11.50 crore. Further, the collections from Tamil and Telugu were Rs. 0.05 crore and 0.15 crore, respectively. Sitaare Zameen Par vs Housefull 5 The Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, and Abhishek Bachchan starrer 'Housefull 5,' which was enjoying the reins at the box office, saw a huge dip in the business as 'Sitaare Zameen Par' made it to the theatres. The multi-starrer comedy-drama only made Rs. 1.85 crore on Friday. The movie has entered its third week and is gradually inching towards the Rs 200 crore mark. Sitaare Zameen Par plot The story revolves around Gulshan Arora (Aamir Khan), a brash basketball coach, who is suspended for punching the head coach. He is also facing a jail term for drunk driving. However, instead of putting him behind bars, he is sentenced to community service, where he is supposed to — train a team of players with intellectual disabilities to compete in a national basketball tournament. The journey begins with its fair share of hiccups but then follows a path of personal growth and valuable life lessons. Alongside Aamir and Genelia, the movie introduces ten new faces, and each one of them is being praised for their stellar performance.


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Will Karisma Kapoor's Children Inherit Sunjay Kapur's Rs 10,000 Crore Fortune? Here's What Law Says
Last Updated: Sunjay Kapur's death has triggered a swirl of speculation regarding the succession of his business empire and personal wealth The untimely death of billionaire industrialist Sunjay Kapur has left a deep void in both the corporate boardrooms and celebrity circles he straddled with equal ease. The 57-year-old chairman of Sona Comstar, a leading global player in automotive components, died suddenly on June 12, 2025, while playing polo in London. Medical reports suggest a rare and fatal anaphylactic shock, reportedly triggered after he accidentally swallowed a bee during the match. While tributes continue to pour in for the visionary businessman who took his father's company global, the spotlight has now shifted to the inevitable and complicated question: Who inherits his estimated Rs 10,300 crore ($1.2 billion) fortune? Sunjay Kapur's death has triggered a swirl of speculation regarding the succession of his business empire and personal wealth. At the time of his passing, Sona Comstar had a market capitalisation of approximately Rs 31,000 crore ($4 billion). Under his leadership, the company expanded rapidly with operations in India, China, Mexico, Serbia, and the United States, becoming a major supplier to global electric vehicle manufacturers. Following the tragedy, Sona Comstar issued a public statement assuring stakeholders of business continuity and respect for Kapur's legacy. However, no official announcement has been made regarding a successor, and the company now stands at a delicate crossroads. Kapur leaves behind a complex family tree and a potentially contentious estate. He was married three times and is survived by three children: Samaira (20) and Kian (14) from his second wife, actress Karisma Kapur, and six-year-old Azariyas from his third and current wife, Priya Sachdev. He also acted as a stepfather to Priya's daughter from a previous marriage. Indian inheritance law adds another layer to the unfolding drama. As per the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, children are entitled to a share of their father's property – regardless of the parents' marital status at the time of death. While a legally drafted will can override typical inheritance rules, sources close to the family suggest no public confirmation has been made regarding such a document. If a will does exist, it could designate specific allocations – possibly even excluding some heirs. But in the absence of one, the estate would be distributed among his legal heirs, including all biological children and his surviving spouse, Priya Sachdev. Kapur's high-profile marriage to Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor ended in 2016, but not without legal safeguards for their two children. According to divorce settlement details reported at the time, Sunjay Kapur had already set aside bonds worth Rs 14 crore each for Samaira and Kian, along with a monthly income of Rs 10 lakh. Karisma was also awarded his father's Mumbai residence under the Supreme Court-monitored alimony agreement, and she received full custody of both children. Still, these arrangements pertain only to child support and post-divorce alimony. Whether Samaira and Kian will receive a larger portion of Kapur's corporate and personal wealth remains uncertain and could depend on the existence and contents of a valid will. Priya Sachdev, Kapur's third wife, is widely expected to be a principal beneficiary of his estate. Not only is she the mother of his youngest son, Azariyas, but she was also his spouse at the time of death. In the eyes of the law, she holds a strong claim over the late tycoon's assets. Before marrying Kapur, Sachdev was married to businessman Vikram Chatwal, with whom she had a daughter. Sunjay Kapur was known to have embraced both children as part of his family. As of now, some media reports suggest that Kapur's sisters may be considered for management roles within Sona Comstar, though the company has made no official announcement. In the meantime, the boardroom remains without its captain, and the estate, without a publicly named heir. The case surrounding Sunjay Kapur's inheritance is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks, once legal proceedings and probate processes begin. Until then, his multi-crore legacy hangs delicately between bloodlines, boardrooms, and legalities. First Published: