Pooja Hegde: From being a tomboy to fitness enthusiast and language lover - A throwback to her evolution 
 

Dating back to the initial days of her career, Pooja Hegde was more of a tomboy, far from the glamorous image she is known for. Now a celebrated actress in both the North and South Indian film industries, Pooja reflected on how her evolution wasn’t just about style but also about embracing new passions and hobbies that fueled her personal growth.

In those early days, Pooja’s focus was more on comfort than couture. However, as her career blossomed, so did her interest in fashion. She began experimenting with her look, gradually moving from casual to chic, until she became the fashion icon she is recognized as today. But Pooja’s transformation wasn’t just skin-deep. Alongside her style evolution, she cultivated a passion for fitness and a love for music, picking up the guitar as a new hobby.

 As Pooja navigated through her career, she found solace in fitness, making it a central part of her life. She candidly recalled, “I used to be lazy about fitness, but now I can’t imagine my life without it. It’s become a part of who I am.” This transformation was evident to her audience, who watched her evolve from the girl-next-door to a fitness enthusiast and style icon. “The audience saw me as the girl next door for a long time, but I wanted to show them that I could be more,” she added.

Beyond her physical transformation, Pooja embraced her flair for languages. Brought up in Mumbai, Pooja grew up learning Tulu, her mother tongue, alongside Hindi, Marathi, and English. Her natural talent for languages made picking up Telugu for her roles in the South Indian film industry seem effortless. “When I was shooting for Oka Laila Kosam and Mukunda, my Telugu was decent as I was interacting with everyone, my staff, and unit members, in Telugu,” she recalled. Though she admitted that a gap during Mohenjo Daro left her a bit rusty, she confidently added, “But I will pick it up real fast.”

On the work front, Pooja Hegde is all set to be seen in Deva alongside Shahid Kapoor. Apart from that, she also has a couple of big-ticket projects in the South which are yet to be announced.