A heartfelt moment took place at the launch event of Retro in Thiruvananthapuram when actor Suriya invited young actor Aavni on stage, acknowledging her bravery and determination following a fire accident during the film’s production.

Directed by Karthik Subbaraj and starring Suriya in the lead, Retro was released in cinemas last week. During the shoot, Aavni—daughter of actor Anjali Nair—sustained serious burns to her eyes, eyebrows, hair, ears, and hands while filming a scene. Despite the painful injuries, the young actor chose to continue filming after taking just a short break, even as the director and team encouraged her to return home and rest.

In an emotional post on Instagram, Anjali Nair opened up about the incident and her daughter’s remarkable resilience. “Hello friends, some of you might have seen the video of the Retro launch at Thiruvananthapuram where actor Suriya sir invited Aavni on stage, holding her hand, and shared about her fire accident, which happened during the Retro shoot. Thank you, Suriya sir, for blessing Aavni and also for your support, concern and love,” Anjali stated on Instagram.

“Our family was shocked and deeply moved by her passion and dedication to acting despite suffering from severe pain. Her eyes, eyebrows, hair, ears, and hands were burned. It’s heartening to know that even when the director and his team suggested Aavni return home, she took a break and courageously asked for just an hour’s rest, and then returned to complete her scenes. As Aavni’s mother, I feel blessed to have such a daughter. As an actor, I admire her strength and resilience. God bless you, Kanna…Moreover, our legendary actor Mammukka and actor Vishnu Unnikrishnan suggested a doctor to help her heal. Thank you so much—it means a lot. Once again, thank you to the full Retro team and Karthik sir,” the emotional mother thanked everyone who supported her daughter during the tough time.

The video of Suriya’s gesture and the moment with Aavni quickly went viral, with fans and colleagues alike praising the young actor’s strength and spirit.