Pooja Hegde

Pooja Hegde continues to shine across Indian cinema with a strong lineup of films in 2026. Her most recent release, *Jana Nayagan*, hit theatres on 23 July In this high-profile Tamil political action drama directed by H. Vinoth, she plays Kayal opposite Thalapathy Vijay in what is widely regarded as his final theatrical film before fully entering politics. The movie generated massive buzz and opened strongly at the box office. Just a month earlier, in June 2026, Hegde appeared in the Hindi romantic comedy *Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai* alongside Varun Dhawan. Directed by David Dhawan, the film marked her return to a light-hearted Bollywood entertainer after several intense roles. Though it received mixed reviews, her performance added charm and energy to the project. In 2025, Pooja delivered a memorable turn in the Tamil action film *Retro*, starring opposite Suriya and directed by Karthik Subbaraj. Released on 1 May she portrayed Rukmini, a veterinarian, and earned praise for her convincing and emotionally grounded performance. The film was a commercial success and further strengthened her presence in Tamil cinema. Earlier that year, she featured in the Hindi action thriller *Deva* with Shahid Kapoor, released on 31 January 2025. Playing journalist Diya, Hegde showcased a more intense and contemporary side. She also made a special appearance as Monica in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s big-budget Rajinikanth starrer *Coolie*, which released on 14 August 2025 and became one of the year’s major commercial hits. Looking ahead, Pooja Hegde has several exciting projects in the pipeline. She is set to appear in *Kanchana 4* opposite Raghava Lawrence and is currently filming the Telugu romantic drama *Sri Sri* with Dulquer Salmaan. With a diverse mix of languages and genres, Hegde remains one of the most versatile and in-demand actresses in Indian cinema today.