Pooja Hegde, born on October 13, 1990, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has emerged as one in every of India’s most distinguished actresses, charming audiences throughout Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi cinema. Identified for her versatility, attraction, and linguistic prowess, she has carved a distinct segment as a pan-Indian star, incomes accolades for her performances and a repute as one in every of South India’s highest-paid actresses. From her roots in a Tulu-speaking household to her rise as a celebrated actress and philanthropist, Hegde’s journey is a testomony to expertise, willpower, and cultural delight.
Early Life and Schooling
Hegde was born to Manjunath Hegde, a prison lawyer, and Latha Hegde, an immunologist and entrepreneur, in a Tulu-speaking Bunt household initially from Udupi, Karnataka. Raised in Mumbai with robust ties to Bengaluru, she considers the latter her hometown. She has an elder brother, Rishabh Hegde, an orthopedic surgeon. Fluent in Tulu, English, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, and later Telugu and Tamil, Hegde’s linguistic versatility displays her cultural adaptability. She attended Maneckji Cooper Schooling Belief College in Mumbai and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from M.M.Ok. Faculty, the place she actively participated in dance and style occasions, honing her efficiency expertise. A skilled Bharatanatyam dancer for over a decade, her grace on-screen attracts from this classical basis.
Ek aur music ko remake karke usko disrespect karne nikal gaye yeh .#VarunDhawan #PoojaHegde
— GAURAV (@Gaurav_Hrithik2) May 24, 2025
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Pageant Beginnings and Entry into Cinema
Hegde’s entry into the general public eye started with magnificence pageants. In 2009, she competed in Miss India, successful the Miss India Gifted 2009 title however was eradicated early. Undeterred, she re-entered in 2010, securing second runner-up at Miss Universe India and Miss India South Glamorous Hair. Her pageant success caught the eye of Tamil director Mysskin, who solid her in her debut movie, Mugamoodi (2012), a superhero film reverse Jiiva. Enjoying Shakthi, a fun-loving character, she ready by memorizing Tamil dialogues by English transliterations, leveraging similarities with Tulu. Although the movie obtained combined opinions, her potential was evident.
Rise to Stardom
Hegde’s breakthrough got here in Telugu cinema with Oka Laila Kosam (2014) reverse Naga Chaitanya, incomes reward for her pure efficiency. She solidified her presence with Mukunda (2014) alongside Varun Tej, adopted by a string of hits like DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham (2017), Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava (2018), and Maharshi (2019), establishing her as a number one woman in Tollywood. Her Bollywood debut, Mohenjo Daro (2016) with Hrithik Roshan, although commercially underwhelming, showcased her capability to deal with interval roles. Beneficial by director Ashutosh Gowariker’s spouse Sunita after a industrial, Hegde prioritized this venture, even turning down a Mani Ratnam movie.
Her versatility shone in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) with Allu Arjun, incomes her a SIIMA Award for Greatest Actress – Telugu. She ventured again to Tamil cinema with Beast (2022) alongside Vijay and starred in Bollywood’s Housefull 4 (2019) and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023) with Salman Khan, although the latter underperformed. Her dance numbers, like “Life Ante Itta Vundaala” in F3: Enjoyable and Frustration (2022), have additionally gone viral, showcasing her charisma.
Philanthropy and Private Life
Past performing, Hegde is a philanthropist by her basis, All About Love, supporting causes like schooling and healthcare. She’s a distinguished model endorser for corporations like pTron and ranked seventh on Forbes India’s checklist of South Cinema’s Most Influential Stars on Instagram in 2021. Named Hyderabad’s Most Fascinating Lady in 2017, she’s a mode icon with an estimated internet price of $8 million (INR 66 crore), charging INR 3-4 crore per movie.
Hegde stays single, with previous rumors linking her to actor Rohan Mehra, which she denied, emphasizing her deal with profession and significant connections. A sports activities fanatic, she admires Roger Federer and Rahul Dravid and owns a pet canine, Pedro. Her dedication to her craft and cultural roots continues to outline her public persona.
Profession Highlights
| 12 months | Movie | Trade | Function | Notable Achievements/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Mugamoodi | Tamil | Shakthi | Appearing debut; ready Tamil dialogues utilizing English transliterations |
| 2014 | Oka Laila Kosam | Telugu | Nandana | Breakthrough function; praised for pure efficiency |
| 2014 | Mukunda | Telugu | Gopika | Constructive box-office response; starred with Varun Tej |
| 2016 | Mohenjo Daro | Hindi | Chaani | Bollywood debut reverse Hrithik Roshan; prioritized over Mani Ratnam’s venture |
| 2017 | DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham | Telugu | Radhika | Business success; established her as a number one Telugu actress |
| 2018 | Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava | Telugu | Aravinda | Critically acclaimed romantic motion movie |
| 2019 | Maharshi | Telugu | Pooja | Motion drama; solidified her Tollywood stardom |
| 2019 | Housefull 4 | Hindi | Rajkumari Mala/Pooja | Highest-grossing movie of the 12 months regardless of adverse opinions; earned ₹2.9 billion |
| 2020 | Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo | Telugu | Amulya | Gained SIIMA Award for Greatest Actress – Telugu; main industrial success |
| 2022 | Beast | Tamil | Preethi | Return to Tamil cinema after 9 years; starred with Vijay |
| 2022 | F3: Enjoyable and Frustration | Telugu | Dancer (particular look) | Viral dance quantity “Life Ante Itta Vundaala” |
| 2023 | Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan | Hindi | Bhagyalakshmi | Starred reverse Salman Khan; commercially underperformed however praised for her function |
Legacy and Future
At 34, Hegde continues to dominate Indian cinema, with upcoming tasks like Deva and Jana Gana Mana poised to increase her attain. Her capability to navigate a number of industries, coupled together with her philanthropy and cultural delight, makes her a task mannequin for aspiring actors. As she balances industrial success with significant roles, Pooja Hegde’s journey from pageant phases to silver screens stays an inspiring story of resilience and reinvention.
