Suriya says he’s not a ‘great actor’ while responding to overacting criticism: ‘I can’t be Karthi… I can’t be Meiyazhagan’ | Tamil Movie News

Suriya and Karthik Subbaraj recently collaborated on the much-awaited film ‘Retro‘, which received only mixed reviews from both fans and critics alike. Following the setback of ‘Kanguva’ in 2024, ‘Retro’ was seen as a crucial project in Suriya’s career. Nevertheless, amidst the lukewarm reviews and concerns about the ‘Ghajini‘ actor’s acting skills, a statement made by the actor has been gaining attention.
Karthik Subbaraj about Suriya
During a promotional discussion with Karthik Subbaraj and music director Santhosh Narayanan, Suriya humbly reflected on his approach to acting. Director Karthik recounted how the actor invested care and attention to detail in every moment of the film—even in scenes that might have seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of the story.
Suriya’s reaction

Suriya responded to the statement by saying, “I am not a great actor. There are people who say I overact. Many people will have that opinion. I simply follow what Bala (director) once told me: ‘Be honest in front of the camera; just be honest. If you slip out of the emotional state of the character and I fail to notice it, just let me know. I will be very happy if you do that.’
Since I studied at that university (Bala)… I try my best. It doesn’t happen every time, but I genuinely try my best,” he said.

Suriya about Karthi‘s skills
Suriya also admitted that his younger brother Karthi brings a different energy to the screen. “There are some things I can do, and others I simply can’t. Take a film like Meiyazhagan. I can’t be Karthi… I can’t be Meiyazhagan. There are some things I have no shame in admitting I can’t do,” Suriya confessed.
‘Retro’, starring Suriya and Pooja Hegde in the lead roles, hit theatres on May 1 and faced a box office clash with Nani’s ‘HIT 3’.