Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Aug 4: Actor Suriya has revealed that his wife, actor Jyotika, stood firmly by him when he took on additional loans to overcome last-minute financial hurdles that threatened the release of his blockbuster film Karuppu.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Suriya said the financial burden came unexpectedly and posed a significant risk for the family. However, Jyotika's trust in his decision gave him the confidence to move forward.

"Thanks to Jyotika. It was a lot of financial burden. It came to me at the last minute. For me to take those extra loans, she was trusting me and allowing me to take them. Because if something goes wrong, as a family, we'd be going through it. Even if we are in an industry for such a long time, these situations are a little above us. It's a leap of faith that you can work on this and you can bet on this. It was a big step for me to take. It was that trust and intuition that we were able to put this together," he said.

Karuppu, directed by RJ Balaji and co-starring Trisha Krishnan, was initially scheduled for release on May 14. However, its release was delayed by a day after last-minute financial and distribution issues led to the cancellation of its scheduled early morning shows.

According to industry reports, Suriya infused substantial funds and arranged additional financing to ensure the film secured theatrical clearance. The film was reportedly facing unsettled dues exceeding Rs 50 crore in Tamil Nadu, along with pending payments, including location-related dues linked to EVP Studios near Chennai.

Responding to Suriya's remarks, Jyotika dismissed the praise and said the credit belonged entirely to him.

"I would not take this compliment, because this was completely his work. We do everything together. Even if it's parenting, we're always on one side of the page. We discuss it first and reflect it to the kids," she said.

Suriya reiterated that the film's release was the result of a collective effort involving the entire team.

"It was a collective effort," he said.

Jyotika added, "It was completely his generosity and wanting to make that film work out. It was a big step."

The actor also acknowledged the support extended by director RJ Balaji, financiers and others associated with the project.

"RJ Balaji has given a lot of time – almost two to two and a half years to this project. A lot of them were depending on this film to work. It was a collective effort. Even the financiers were supportive. They were able to say, 'even if we get 25 to 30 per cent back, we'll allow you to release the film in theatres.' It was a collective effort that the film got released," he said.

Although Karuppu faced an unexpected delay on its scheduled release date due to financial and distribution hurdles, it eventually hit theatres on May 15. The film went on to become a massive commercial success, earning over Rs 300 crore worldwide and emerging as the biggest blockbuster of Suriya's career.