Retro actor Pooja Hegde’s Bollywood journey: From Mohenjo Daro to Deva

Now is the ideal moment to reflect on Pooja Hegde's Bollywood career as she prepares for the highly anticipated premiere of her Tamil film Retro opposite Suriya—directed by Karthik Subbaraj and scheduled to hit theatres on May 1, 2025. The actor has created a pan-Indian career with a combination of charisma, screen presence, and a significant fan base across industries. 

Here's a detailed rewind of her Bollywood journey so far:

Mohenjo Daro (2016) - Netflix; Prime Video

Pooja Hegde made her perfect Bollywood debut in Ashutosh Gowariker's magnum opus Mohenjo Daro. Hrithik Roshan played the role of the farmer-turned-hero Sarman in the historical romance set in the ancient Indus Valley civilisation. Pooja's Chaani, the stunning and adored "chosen one" of the city, develops a deep affection for Sarman. The film's moderate box office result and mixed reviews didn't dampen Pooja's ethereal beauty or screen presence. Mohenjo Daro was an audacious debut that heralded her entry into the grand Bollywood stage.

Housefull 4 (2019) - JioHotstar

A reincarnation comedy film brimming with star power, Housefull 4 marked Pooja's comeback to Bollywood after a few years of concentrating on her flourishing career in South cinema. The film was produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Farhad Samji; it co-starred Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, and Kriti Kharbanda. Pooja debuted in 1419 as Rajkumari Mala and reprises the role as Pooja Thakral in the modern era. The laugh riot, which received mixed reviews from critics but was a financial triumph, was a perfect fit for her stunning image and natural comic timing.

Cirkus (2022) - Netflix

Pooja appeared in Rohit Shetty's Cirkus in 2022. The film, which featured Jacqueline Fernandez and Ranveer Singh, was based on Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors and followed the story of a set of identical twins who were born into different families. Playing Ranveer's romantic interest, Mala, Pooja brought her trademark glitz to the big screen. Cirkus was another high-profile project that added to Pooja's Bollywood resume, despite the mixed reviews and poor box office performance.

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023) - ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan came out in 2023 and featured Pooja Hegde alongside Salman Khan. She starred as Bhagyalakshmi ("Bhagya"), a free-spirited young woman who influences the superstar's character—a rough-and-tumble but good-hearted man—to stay with his family instead of marrying. The film was directed by Farhad Samji. Their chemistry was a topic of discussion among fans, and Pooja was praised for her ability to keep up with the superstar. The family film did well at the box office and helped Pooja cement her place in Hindi cinema.

Deva (2025) - Netflix

Directed by the renowned Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrews, Deva starred Pooja opposite Shahid Kapoor. The riveting action-thriller is a remake of the critically acclaimed Malayalam picture Mumbai Police into Hindi. Pooja portrayed journalist Diya Sathaye, while Shahid portrayed Deva, an amnesic police officer attempting to solve a murder mystery. Acting chops, not cinematic glamour, are what Pooja is all about, as her performance in Deva demonstrated.