Pooja Hegde

Pooja Hegde Quick Facts

Pooja Hegde Career in Numbers

In a career spanning more than a decade, Pooja Hegde has worked across four major Indian film industries and earned several prestigious acting honours. Here is a snapshot of her career achievements by the numbers.

Early Life and Family

Pooja Hegde was born on October 13, 1990, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family with roots in Udupi, Karnataka. Her father, Manjunath Hegde, is a criminal lawyer, while her mother, Latha Hegde, is an immunologist and entrepreneur. Her brother, Rishabh Hegde, is an orthopaedic surgeon. Growing up in a professionally accomplished family, Pooja was trained in classical Bharatanatyam dance and music from a young age, alongside her formal schooling at Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School in Mumbai.

She went on to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree at M. M. K. College in Mumbai. Fluent in Tulu, English, Hindi, and Marathi from her upbringing, she later learned Kannada and Telugu to expand her acting career into South Indian cinema. Before entering films, she took part in beauty pageants, winning the Miss India Talented title in 2009 and finishing as a runner-up at Femina Miss India South and a second runner-up at Miss Universe India in 2010.

Pooja Hegde Career Journey

Debut and Early Roles (2012–2014)

Pooja Hegde was discovered by director Mysskin from her pageant photographs and made her acting debut with the Tamil film Mugamoodi (2012), playing the role of Shakthi opposite Jiiva. The performance earned her nominations for the SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut – Tamil and the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. She then shifted her focus to Telugu cinema, appearing in Oka Laila Kosam (2014) opposite Naga Chaitanya, a romantic comedy that became her first major hit and introduced her to a wider South Indian audience.

Telugu Breakthrough and Rise (2014–2018)

Following Oka Laila Kosam, Pooja starred in Mukunda (2014) opposite Varun Tej, where the song “Gopikamma” became a chartbuster and marked a significant turning point in her career. She consolidated her position in Telugu cinema with DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham (2017) opposite Allu Arjun, which grossed over ₹150 crore and became one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of that year, followed by Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava (2018) opposite N.T. Rama Rao Jr., which emerged as the second-highest-grossing Telugu film of the year.

Bollywood Entry and Pan-Indian Stardom (2016–2021)

Pooja made her Bollywood debut opposite Hrithik Roshan in Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama Mohenjo Daro (2016). She returned to Hindi cinema three years later with the ensemble comedy Housefull 4 (2019), which grossed around ₹290 crore despite mixed reviews. Her biggest career milestone came with Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) opposite Allu Arjun, which became the first South Indian film in a single language to cross ₹200 crore nett and won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She followed this with another SIIMA Best Actress win for Most Eligible Bachelor (2021) opposite Akhil Akkineni.

Multilingual Expansion and Recent Work (2022–2026)

Pooja continued to diversify across industries with high-profile projects such as Radhe Shyam (2022) opposite Prabhas, Beast (2022) opposite Vijay — marking her return to Tamil cinema after nine years and sparking the viral “Arabic Kuthu” dance trend — and Cirkus (2022) opposite Ranveer Singh. She went on to star in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023) with Salman Khan, Deva (2025) with Shahid Kapoor, and Retro (2025) opposite Suriya. As of 2026, she has lined up releases including Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai with Varun Dhawan and Jana Nayagan, the much-anticipated final film of superstar Vijay, alongside announced projects like Kanchana 4 and Sri Sri.

Pooja Hegde Movies: Complete Filmography

Below is the complete filmography of Pooja Hegde, from her 2012 debut to her announced upcoming projects, spanning Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema.

Pooja Hegde Awards and Achievements

Pooja Hegde Personal Life

Pooja Hegde has largely kept her personal relationships out of the public eye and remains unmarried, with no publicly confirmed relationship as of 2026. She is known for her close bond with her family, including her father Manjunath Hegde, mother Latha Hegde, and brother Rishabh Hegde, all of whom hold prominent professional careers of their own outside the entertainment industry.

Beyond acting, Pooja runs a charitable foundation called “All About Love,” which supports education and healthcare for underprivileged children across India, funded in part through a portion of her personal earnings. She has been involved in numerous philanthropic initiatives over the years, including covering medical expenses for children at Tata Memorial Hospital, organizing PPE kit drives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and distributing rations to families in need. She is also a vocal advocate for women’s rights, gender equality, and closing the gender pay gap in the Indian film industry, and has served as a brand ambassador for companies including Garnier, Maaza, pTron, and Bhima Jewellers.

Pooja Hegde Net Worth

Pooja Hegde’s wealth is derived primarily from her film salaries across the Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi film industries, supplemented by a steady stream of brand endorsement deals with major companies such as Garnier, Maaza, pTron, Citra, IGP, and Bhima Jewellers, for whom she serves as the first brand ambassador. As one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema, she commands substantial fees per film in addition to her income from stage shows, concert tours, and social media promotions.

Estimated Net Worth: Approximately ₹65 crore.

Net worth figures are estimates based on publicly reported information and vary across sources (commonly cited estimates range from roughly ₹50 crore to ₹80 crore). They are not audited financial statements and may not account for liabilities, family holdings or changes in asset values.

Lesser-Known Facts About Pooja Hegde

• She was discovered for her acting debut purely from photographs taken during a beauty pageant, without ever auditioning.
• She belongs to a Tulu-speaking Bunt family with roots in Udupi, Karnataka, and is fluent in Tulu, English, Hindi, and Marathi, having later learned Kannada and Telugu for her career.
• She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from M. M. K. College, Mumbai, and was trained in classical Bharatanatyam dance from a young age.
• Her father is a criminal lawyer and her mother is an immunologist and entrepreneur, while her brother is an orthopaedic surgeon — a family largely outside the entertainment field.
• Her dance moves in the Tamil film Beast sparked the viral “Arabic Kuthu Challenge” on social media.
• She runs the charitable foundation “All About Love,” which funds education and healthcare for underprivileged children across India.

Legacy and Impact

Over a career spanning more than a decade, Pooja Hegde has carved a distinct identity as one of the few actresses to command leading roles across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema simultaneously, making her one of the true pan-Indian stars of her generation. Beyond her box-office success, her outspoken stance on gender pay equality and her sustained philanthropic work have added a layer of public influence to her career, while her journey from a beauty pageant contestant to an award-winning leading actress continues to inspire aspiring performers across India.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pooja Hegde

How old is Pooja Hegde?

Pooja Hegde was born on October 13, 1990, which makes her 35 years old as of 2026.

How many films has Pooja Hegde acted in?

As of 2026, Pooja Hegde has appeared in 24 released films across Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, with at least 2 more announced or upcoming projects, bringing her total filmography to around 26 titles.

What is Pooja Hegde’s most famous role?

Pooja Hegde is best known for her role as Amulya in the blockbuster Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), which won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress and remains one of the highest-grossing films of her career.

Has Pooja Hegde won any awards?

Yes, Pooja Hegde has won the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Telugu twice (for Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo and Most Eligible Bachelor), along with several Santosham Film Awards and a Zee Telugu Golden Award, in addition to multiple Filmfare Awards South nominations.

What is Pooja Hegde’s net worth?

Pooja Hegde’s net worth is estimated at approximately ₹65 crore as of 2026, built primarily from her film career and brand endorsements, though publicly reported estimates vary between roughly ₹50 crore and ₹80 crore.

Final Summary

Pooja Hegde’s journey from a beauty pageant contestant in Mumbai to one of the most prominent pan-Indian actresses of her generation reflects both versatility and resilience. With a filmography that spans Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema and collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest stars, she has established herself as a bankable leading lady capable of headlining big-budget commercial films as well as more experimental projects.

With award-winning performances, a string of commercial hits, and continued philanthropic and advocacy work, Pooja Hegde remains one of the most recognisable and influential actresses in Indian cinema today, with several high-profile releases, including Vijay’s much-awaited final film Jana Nayagan, lined up for 2026 and beyond.