45 Facts About Pooja Hegde

Pooja Hegde is an Indian actress who appears in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil films.

The second runner-up at the 2010 Miss Universe India beauty pageant, Hegde is one of South India's highest-paid actresses and has received four SIIMA Awards.

Pooja Hegde accepted offers to join the Indian film industry following her pageant wins.

Pooja Hegde's acting debut came in the Tamil film Mugamoodi.

Pooja Hegde had her first Telugu release in Oka Laila Kosam followed by her first Hindi film in the poorly received Mohenjo Daro.

Pooja Hegde was born on 13 October 1990 and states she was raised up in Mumbai, Maharashtra in a Tulu-speaking Bunt family.

Pooja Hegde's father, Manjunath Hegde, is a criminal lawyer and her mother, Latha Hegde, is a Immunologist and entrepreneur.

Pooja Hegde's elder brother Rishabh Hegde, is an orthopaedic surgeon.

Pooja Hegde later learnt Telugu following a career in her respective cinema.

Pooja Hegde considers Bengaluru as her home town, and maintains strong connections there.

Pooja Hegde did her schooling in Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School, Mumbai.

Pooja Hegde trained in classical dance and music for ten years and showed an interest in traditional dance forms, including Bharatanatyam.

Pooja Hegde has said that she was shy and introvert child.

Pooja Hegde competed in the Miss India 2009 competition, but was eliminated in an early round despite winning the Miss India Talented 2009 honour.

Pooja Hegde re-applied the following year and was the second runner-up in the Miss Universe India 2010 competition.

Pooja Hegde rejected offers of several projects from big production banners over three years before debuting in Mugamoodi.

Pooja Hegde portrayed the female lead character of Shakthi, a fun-loving girl who inspires the male lead to change his outlook on society.

Pooja Hegde practised Tamil dialogues for the film by writing and memorising words in English, adding similarities between Tamil and her mother tongue Tulu.

Pooja Hegde learned Telugu language to play the female lead.

Pooja Hegde was next cast opposite Varun Tej in Srikanth Addala's drama Mukunda.

Pooja Hegde has said that the song "Gopikamma" marked a major breakthrough in her career.

In 2016, Pooja Hegde made her Hindi film film debut as the female lead opposite Hrithik Roshan in Ashutosh Gowariker's period film Mohenjo Daro, set against the backdrop of the Indus Valley civilisation.

Pooja Hegde was selected after Gowariker's wife, Sunita Gowariker, spotted her in an advertisement and called her for an audition, which she successfully completed.

Shubha Shetty Saha from India Times that "Pooja Hegde is pretty and makes quite a confident debut".

Pooja Hegde described her role as an outgoing and modern girl, unlike her previous roles in Telugu films, which she considered traditional.

Pooja Hegde began the year with an item number "Jigelu Rani" for the period action Rangasthalam.

Pooja Hegde next starred opposite Bellamkonda Sreenivas in the fantasy action Saakshyam, portraying the role of a middle-class Brahmin girl who was a spiritual leader.

Pooja Hegde felt that the role was an amazing opportunity to explore a new aspect of dubbing for herself.

Pooja Hegde suffered sunburn during the filming of the song "Elluvochi Godaramma", in the middle of the river at Yanam.

In 2021, Pooja Hegde starred in Most Eligible Bachelor, directed by Bommarillu Bhaskar opposite Akhil Akkineni, in which she played the role of a stand-up comedian.

Pooja Hegde began 2022 by playing the leading lady opposite Prabhas in the multilingual period romance film Radhe Shyam, directed by Radha Krishna Kumar.

Pooja Hegde shot and dubbed her portions in Telugu and Hindi languages.

Pooja Hegde next starred alongside Vijay in Tamil action comedy Beast, directed by Nelson.

Pooja Hegde performed her second dance number in the film, F3: Fun and Frustration alongside Venkatesh and Tej in the party song "Life Ante Itta Vundaala".

Pooja Hegde played the role of a Telugu girl who transforms the life of the protective and solitary Bhaijaan, bringing love, family unity, and a new purpose to his existence.

Pooja Hegde will have a special appearance in Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie starring Rajinikanth.

Pooja Hegde is considered among the most popular actors of Telugu cinema.

Pooja Hegde stood at the 7th place on Forbes India's Most Influential Stars on Instagram in South Cinema for the year 2021.

Pooja Hegde topped the India Todays "Heroines who ruled Telugu cinema in 2022".

Pooja Hegde has frequently featured in Times' Most Desirable Woman list.

Pooja Hegde was the Hyderabad Times' Most Desirable Woman of 2017.

Pooja Hegde was one of the most searched actresses on Google, for several times.

Pooja Hegde became one of the most searched Asian on Google in 2022.

Pooja Hegde is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products.

Pooja Hegde has represented many brands, including Citra, pTron, Garnier, IGP and Maaza; she was the first brand ambassador of Bhima Jewellers.