Entertainment

Pooja Hegde: “I always want women to remember that your voice has power”

During a recent interaction actress Pooja Hegde spoke to Lipika Varma on being grounded, the lessons learned from mom, and how does she empower women and inspiring people through her films, among many other things.

The Old and The New
What is the criteria of you choosing your films now?
I go with my gut instinct and if the director is Sanjay Leela Bhansali [sir] or
Rajamauli [sir], I am not going to ask them. I want to be part of their story. In
Acharya starring Ram Charan I’m playing the role of a proper Telugu village
girl since it interested me. So it’s sometimes the story, the role or the people I
am working with.

So who made you sign Radhe Shyam?
It was all a mixed bag but after hearing the narration I felt very excited. In this commercial film the character of Prerna is very complex and has different shades. I was also happy to be in Prabhas’ film.

Radhe Shyam Pooja Hegde Interview with Hashtagmagazine

Your Hindi debut Mohenjo-Daro, never worked. Do you have any regrets?
I was with the film for almost two years as I was bond contractually. What can I do if a film didn’t do well? I can cry only for some time. You have to get up and have to work. It was a huge film, starring Hrithik Roshan coming together with director Ashutosh Gowarikar after Jodha Akbar. I could not have asked for anything more in terms of a debut film. What can I do if it didn’t work? I moved on; that’s life.

“I could not have asked for anything more in terms of a debut film.”

Whose biopic would you like to reprise on the celluloid?
I want to do a biopic and if I get an opportunity, I’d like to play Gayatri Devi. She was so classy and represented her family very well.

Fan Favourite
How do manage to strike the balance between North and South?
God has been kind to give me all these films. I always wanted to act in different languages. If I say two lines in Gujarati, I will connect to a Gujarati speaking individual. I feel acting in anyone’s language gives instant connections. There is an unexplainable thing. Languages have that power. I wanted to belong to the Indian industry rather than belonging to one industry. I am lucky it has worked for me as my audiences have accepted me.

From being a Southern siren in Tollywood to now being a Pan-Indian
siren, you’ve come a long way. Is South still home?
Down South, people have taken me as their own. They have given me apna wala feeling. South has also given me so much respect. South has given me so much that now, I can select my Hindi film and not just do for the sake of doing films. I think I’m blessed. God has been kind to me. I want to give them back the love given to me which is why I dub my own Telugu films. They have accepted me and loved me, which I don’t take lightly. Sometimes on Instagram I connect with my fans. I look at their conversations and they are students who drive far away to watch my South films as it doesn’t normally release near their homes. I feel so responsible that they have spent so much money. I don’t take them lightly or for granted.

“I wanted to belong to the Indian industry rather than belonging to one industry.”

What do you think of your ardent fans?
I feel the fans are so passionate about films. Earlier, overseas was very a small percentage of South films. Now, Telugu films are making 100 to 200 Cr. If you think about it, it’s only two states right now, Andhra –Telangana or Tamil Nadu. They are making so much money. This means one fan has watched a film again and again to make us that kind of money. It’s entertainment and so they take their families for an outing. They also love doing charity in my name – during Covid, they gave sanitizer and food to people. One lot of fans gave sarees and clothing to people. It’s amazing to know all this. As much as possible, I am in touch with my fan club. I hope I can meet them soon. If I am organizing something, they protect me like a mama bear. They reflect a lot of values.

“I am in touch with my fan club. I hope I can meet them soon.”

Shattering Biases
What do you think of the pay gap in the industry?
It exists in every industry. I hope the next generation of actors can come and can say, “Pooja ne itna charge kiya tha – so it’s okay to charge that.” I push a lot because I feel your worth has to be paid. You must know how much of the audiences you are pulling in and charge accordingly. The producers are going to pay you as per the audience you are pulling in. But there is a gap since it’s a slow process in general; not only in this industry but overall.

What is your idea about portraying female-centric roles?
I always wonder if films are called women-oriented. Growing up, as a girl, I felt like haven’t been represented as strongly as we could be. I would like to do something like Seeta Aur Geeta…it’s such an inspiring film. It did well and was a blockbuster film. I don’t know why but somewhere we forgot that female-centric films work. Whether it was Mili, ChaalBaaz, or Chandni, all these films were amazing. But somewhere along the line we decided that nahi yaar, yeh film bikti nahi hai. I am glad that films like Gangubai are doing well. I personally feel that women stories should be told to inspire the next generation and also include action films. For example, I love watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith and seeing Angelina Jolie be so cool.

Up Close and Personal
Thoughts on fashion?
I feel fashion is a way you can talk about yourself. It’s definitely one way of expressing yourself. Fashion reflects who you are and at the same time, it works internally.

You have been a strong advocate for women’s empowerment.
I always want women to remember that your voice has power. Come out with your story and talk. Live your life in a way that you can inspire people. I have always sought inspiration through the women I met in my life. I feel like if even one girl gets inspired by me then I would have lived a good life. By changing a girl’s life, you are changing her entire family…they are nurturers. It’s so important to inspire little women. I do that through my art. My contribution to bring about some changes is through my films and I only hope they watch my films. Bada yudh toh hota rehta hai …we concentrate on our daily life and also on breaking the glass ceiling.

Do you think success has changed you?
I feel like I’m still the same. I am still my mom’s daughter. Life has changed for me. I think destiny definitely had a huge part to play because I never thought I would turn to acting as I belong to a very educational driven background. My brother is a doctor and my father is a lawyer. My mother has studied MBA and is doing a Masters in law now. I never thought about it. This industry has picked me. My family had no connections to the industry. I got into Miss India and didn’t win, but was a runner-up. It makes me happy I have always made decisions based on my guts. I also feel happy that you can work hard. Your journey may be longer but you can reach there.

Pooja Hegde with mother — “I am still my mom’s daughter”: Pooja Hegde

“My mother is a tough girl. She is my inspiration.”

Who is your inspiration?
My mother is a tough girl. She is my inspiration. My parents have always taught me through action. I saw them doing things to make us believe. My mother has raised 2 kids and runs a successful business at the same time. She would get up in the morning and pack our dabbas and send us to school, wash the clothes, make sure everyone has had their food and then go to work. When she would come back she took care of our homework. It never felt like a task. Mom is like a super woman. Just recently, my 2 year old cousin’s sister came to stay with me along with her 2 brothers. I was turning mad looking after them. I didn’t know how to handle all of it and I’m wondered, ‘how did my mother manage all this?’ All the respect to moms; they make it seem so easy.

April 5, 2022

Pooja Hegde

Exclusive Interview: Nikhil Siddhartha on Swayambhu, Family and Politics

After the pan-India success of Karthikeya 2, Nikhil Siddhartha finds himself at a pivotal phase in his career. The actor is currently gearing up for the release of Swayambhu, one of the most ambitious projects he has undertaken to date, a historical action drama that demanded nearly two-and-a-half years of dedication, extensive physical transformation, and months of post-production work. In a candid conversation with Priyanka Goud, Nikhil opens up about the challenges of mounting a large-scale period film, why he prioritises quality over quantity, how fatherhood has changed his outlook on life, and his belief in using cinema as a tool for social awareness. A Two-and-a-Half-Year Commitment Describing Swayambhu as a project unlike any other in his career, Nikhil revealed that he dedicated nearly two and a half years exclusively to the film.“Some films are easy to make, and some are difficult. Swayambhu falls into the category of films that demand complete commitment. I underwent a significant transformation for the role, growing my hair long, maintaining a specific physique, and immersing myself in the character and story throughout the production period,” he said. A Historical Story with Universal Appeal One of the aspects that attracted Nikhil to Swayambhu was its historical backdrop. Nikhil plays Krishnan Raman, a historical figure whose name appears on ancient copper plate inscriptions that have recently gained attention. “This story is rooted in history, but its themes are universal,” he said. “It’s not confined to one region; audiences across India will be able to connect with it.” The actor also highlighted the growing importance of visual effects in modern filmmaking. Swayambhu reportedly contains nearly 2,700 VFX shots, making post-production one of the most demanding phases of the project. “We completed principal photography in December 2025, but for the last five to six months it has been

Entertainment

Preity Zinta on Batwara 1947, Motherhood and Finding Her Way Back to Cinema

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Entertainment

Exclusive Interview with Sunny Deol: Life Beyond Bollywood

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Entertainment

Akshay Kumar: “The Craft Has Changed, But Hard Work Never Goes Out of Style”

With a career spanning over three decades, Akshay Kumar continues to reinvent himself across genres, from action and comedy to social dramas and entertainers. As he looks ahead to his upcoming projects, including the action-thriller Haiwaan and a lineup of comedy entertainers, the actor reflects on his journey, his approach to cinema, discipline, and why staying connected to the craft remains his biggest priority. In conversation with Lipika Varma, Akshay opens up about his evolving approach to cinema, the importance of teamwork, and the values that guide him both on and off screen. You have played action heroes, comedians, romantic leads, and intense characters. What kind of roles excite you the most today? I enjoy all kinds of roles. When I entered the industry, people mostly saw me as an action hero. After that, I consciously chose to explore different genres and keep discovering myself as an actor. I have done comedy, romance, social dramas, and action films. Every genre brings a different challenge, and that is what keeps the journey interesting. Comedy has been one of your strongest genres. What makes it so special for you? Comedy is definitely one of the hardest genres. Making someone emotional can sometimes be supported by the situation or background music, but making someone genuinely laugh requires precision, timing, and a lot of hard work. Comedy often looks effortless on screen, but there is a lot of discipline behind creating that moment. That challenge is what makes it exciting for me. You have been part of several ensemble films. What is your view on multi-starrers? Everyone has their own approach. Some actors prefer solo films, while others enjoy working in ensemble projects. There is no fixed formula for success. A film works because of its content, storytelling, and execution, not simply because of