I was a shy, introverted child, but now it feel like I am a totally different person: Pooja Hegde

05/06/2023

Pooja Hegde's career has had its ups and downs. She burst onto the scene with three big films - the Tamil superhero adventure Mugamoodi with co-star Jiiva, the Telugu romcom Oka Laila Kosam with Naga Chaitanya and Mohenjo Daro with Hrithik Roshan. For most actresses that would be a dream start to their careers and it was no different for Pooja.
She then had major commercial hits like Jr NTR's Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava, Mahesh Babu's Maharishi and Akshay Kumar's Housefull 4. But of late, she's also seen misses like Prabhas' Radhe Shyam and Salman Khan's Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. But Pooja isn't affected by the highs or the lows.
She keeps her passion for cinema at the forefront and looks forward to new challenges in front of the camera. She talks about success, failure and setbacks with candour.
You've completed a decade in films this year. How do you look back at your career, films and roles?
It doesn't feel like it's been 10 years. From the moment I did my first film, I kept working every year. I even did a Tamil film without knowing if I wanted to do it. Not that I was unsure about working in Tamil films, but my mom encouraged me to give it a try, saying I wouldn't know if I liked it unless I tried. During that film, I realized I enjoyed the process and decided to focus on selecting films based on their stories. I had to figure it out on my own without much guidance.
After that film, I went through a year without any work. I patiently waited for the right opportunity to come my way, attending auditions but often not getting the roles. Despite the setbacks, I remained enthusiastic and never thought that it wouldn't happen for me. I always wondered when the work that I desired would come my way.
One of your earliest breakthroughs was the ad film you shot with Ranbir Kapoor. How did you get that opportunity?
It happened through an audition. They were only testing six girls, so I went in and did one take. The casting lady thanked me and said they had what they needed. I offered to do another take with a different approach, even though I didn't think I would get the ad since they didn't seem interested. Surprisingly, I received a call saying I was selected, and the ad featured Ranbir Kapoor. That ad opened doors for me in the film industry. It all took off from there.
I then signed on for Mohenjo Daro (2016), which bound me contractually for two years. The work I've been doing for the past 3-4 years is when my actual journey began.
Do you think contractual obligations are still prevalent in today's times?
I believe things have changed now, and such contractual restrictions are not as common. Personally, I missed out on many film opportunities due to those obligations. But it's all part of the job and I've come to accept it.
How did you maintain a positive attitude during the time when you weren't getting work?
Deep down, I always knew I would make it. I never considered having a Plan B. I genuinely believe that a stubborn heart can win over the universe. Of course, there were stressful times, but I persevered. My mother has always been a source of inspiration in that regard.
Success and failure are part of an actor's journey. How do you handle them?
I treat success and failure equally. As Michael Jordan said, "You're only successful until you have done the act. Then you have to prove it again." I am thrilled when a film does well and receives appreciation, but I quickly move on. I maintain the same attitude towards failure. My focus is on doing good work and not becoming too attached to a film's outcome. Box office failure doesn't necessarily determine the quality of a film.
When did you first realize that you had become popular?
Even now, I don't fully grasp the extent of my popularity (laughs). I was a shy, introverted and reserved child. Sometimes, it feels like I'm a different person altogether.
Perhaps the Hindi audience discovered my work during the pandemic, and now they recognize me and approach me for photos at airports. They may struggle with pronouncing the titles of my Tamil and Telugu films, but it's heartwarming to know that they enjoyed them.
Share one 'happy' memory from your career thus far.
One special moment was when Madhuri Dixit ma'am knew my name. I went to say 'Hi' to her, and she greeted me by saying, "Hi Pooja, how are you?" I was amazed that Madhuri Dixit knew my name! It was a truly memorable moment.

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