Pooja Hegde Shares Hair-Raising Boat Accident Memory as 'Retro' Completes One Year

The Telugu film industry witnessed one of its close calls last year, and Pooja Hegde has chosen the first anniversary of 'Retro' to finally share the terrifying details. The actress took to social media to reveal a harrowing boat accident that nearly turned tragic during the film's shoot on a snake-infested island.

According to Pooja's account, the crew was filming on a remote island when an unexpected storm hit. "We were shooting on an island full of snakes when suddenly a storm struck. The sea waves crashed violently, tearing the boat's ligament. There was mud everywhere, and our boat even caught fire, leaving everyone terrified," she recalled in her emotional post.

What could have been a catastrophic incident was averted thanks to quick thinking by crew member Suhas, whom Pooja credits as the "real hero" of the situation. Her viral video tribute to Suhas has fans breathing a collective sigh of relief, realizing how close the 'Retro' team came to disaster.

This revelation adds another layer to what was already a challenging project for both Pooja and Suriya. The Karthik Subbaraj directorial, produced under Stone Bench Creations and 2D Entertainment, carried massive expectations when it hit screens on May 1st last year. For Pooja, it represented a crucial comeback opportunity, while Suriya desperately needed a hit following the 'Kanguva' debacle.

Unfortunately, 'Retro' failed to meet those towering expectations. Despite its impressive cast including Joju George, Nazar, Prakash Raj, and Jaya Ram, the romantic action entertainer couldn't connect with audiences. The film's 2 hour 40 minute runtime felt indulgent, with critics pointing to a lack of gripping narrative and an underdeveloped love track between the leads.

The core relationship between the island and the protagonists remained frustratingly vague, suggesting Subbaraj's ambitious vision didn't translate effectively to screen. What should have been Suriya and Pooja's triumphant return instead became another reminder of how unpredictable this industry can be: both on and off camera.