In a recent interview, Pooja Hegde revealed that filmmakers in North India have been typecasting her in glamorous roles. She said Bollywood has not seen the kind of performances she delivered in South Indian films, which is why they only cast her in glam-based characters.
The actress thanked Karthik Subbaraj for offering her the role of Rukmini in Suriya’s Retro, saying it gave her a chance to showcase her performance skills. Her comments quickly went viral and sparked debate among fans and critics.
Many netizens responded that she has mostly acted in glamorous roles in South cinema and is not widely known as a strong performer. They also pointed out that while she believes her role in Retro was award-worthy, she faced trolling for her acting in the film. This was something she had not experienced for her previous glamorous roles.
Some critics on social media added that she seems disconnected from reality, assuming that South Indian industries offer her performance-driven roles while Bollywood gives her projects like Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, where she appeared as a glam doll. They also noted that her upcoming Hindi film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai opposite Varun Dhawan features yet another glamorous character.
Several fans suggested that the choice is in her hands. If she truly wants to be recognised as a performer, she should pick scripts more selectively instead of accepting every glamorous role offered.
After Retro, Pooja Hegde is now working in Vijay’s final film Jana Nayagan and Raghava Lawrence’s Kanchana 4 in Kollywood. It remains to be seen whether these movies will succeed at the box office and help her secure a stronger position in the Tamil film industry.
