RJ Balaji took to social media on Friday to pen a heartfelt note of gratitude to Suriya, crediting the actor's unwavering belief as the foundation on which Karuppu was built. Sharing a warm photograph of the two embracing and a video of Suriya at the wheel with Balaji alongside, the filmmaker wrote that Suriya's trust from day one turned a dream into reality and marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

"What started as a promise I made to you became a reality and a mega blockbuster. None of this would have been possible without the ONE and ONLY Suriya sir," Balaji wrote.

The post arrives in the backdrop of a controversy that had been brewing over the past week. When Balaji met Chief Minister Vijay, he revealed that Karuppu was originally conceived with the then-actor in mind and thanked him for inputs that shaped the film — describing Vijay as "the man who started it all for Karuppu." The remarks drew sharp criticism from fans who felt Suriya, who ultimately carried the film to blockbuster status, was not being given his due credit.

Friday's post appears to be Balaji's response to that backlash — a direct and emphatic acknowledgement of what Suriya's trust meant to the project.

Karuppu began streaming on Prime Video on the same day.