There are performances that entertain, some that impress and then there are those that stay with you. Pooja Hegde’s portrayal of Ruku in Retro is one such performance. It doesn’t scream for attention, but quietly settles in, becoming more impactful the longer you sit with it.

From the very first frame, Pooja doesn’t feel like an actress playing a character. She is Ruku effortlessly, convincingly, and with a presence that feels both grounded and quietly radiant. There isn’t a single moment where she feels detached from the world of Rukku.What makes this performance stand out isn’t just its simplicity, but its depth.

Rukku doesn’t always speak much and yet, through her silences, Pooja conveys an entire spectrum of emotion. Her eyes do the expressing- pain, hope, love, and resilience in a way that words might not had done justice to it. That emotional fluency is rare and moving.Rukku, as brought to life by Pooja, becomes a visual embodiment of "softness in strength." There's a quiet resolve in her, a natural charm that doesn't try too hard, and a warmth that makes her feel like someone we know. She is, in every sense, the girl next door not in a stereotypical way, but in a way that feels real and refreshingly humane.

Pooja’s transition into this role is also particularly striking for those familiar with her past work. There’s a distinct shift here, not just in the kind of character she plays, but in how deeply she seems to inhabit it. It's as though we’re seeing a different side of her. Her command over the Tamil language, the subtlety in her performance, and the overall tonal match with the film’s emotional rhythm all point to a committed artist.

It’s not easy to adapt yourself completely to the narrative, especially in a film that relies more on mood and emotion- Yet Pooja handles it all with such grace. There’s something undeniably powerful about a performance that feels less like acting and more like presence. This is the kind of performance that grows on you slowly, but surely. It stays. It resonates. And more than anything, it leaves you wanting to see what Pooja Hegde will bring to the screen next with her amazing lineup- Jana Nayagan/ Coolie/ Kanchana 4.