Pooja Hegde Out, Dhanush Film Gets New Heroine

Pooja Hegde isn’t new to the ups and downs of the film business. After dominating the screen with a streak of hit films across industries, she’s now finding herself on the other side. A string of box office disappointments, Radhe Shyam, Beast, Acharya, Circus, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, and recently Retro, has slowed her momentum. Retro, especially, where she tried something different with a stripped-down role, didn’t land the way she had hoped.

And now, another project has slipped away. Director Vignesh Raja was reportedly in talks with her for his upcoming film with Dhanush, but that offer’s now gone to Mamitha Baiju, a Malayalam actress who's quickly gaining traction in Tamil cinema. She’s already working with stars like Vijay and Suriya, and now, bagging a film opposite Dhanush adds more weight to her growing filmography.

It’s a sharp turn in fortunes. Pooja, who once commanded some of the highest paychecks in the industry, is now dealing with a dip in demand. One high-profile miss leads to another, and the industry moves on fast. For Mamitha, it’s the kind of break that pushes a rising actor into bigger spaces. For Pooja, it's a signal that the game has shifted, at least for now.

That said, she’s far from out. Pooja still has films lined up with Rajinikanth, Vijay, and Raghava Lawrence. She’s in the mix, even if the spotlight isn’t as hot as it once was. In an industry where one good role can flip the narrative, she just needs that next hit to turn things around.