pooja hegde

V Lakshmi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 11, 2022)

This year, Raksha Bandhan is special for Pooja Hegde because she finally gets to celebrate the big day with her cousins, to whom she couriers rakhi every year. While she admits she’ll miss spending time with her elder brother, Rishabh, an orthopedic surgeon, the actress says he’ll be cool with it because he knows she loves him to the moon and back. Pooja, who’s holidaying in the US, talks to us about her equation with her anna, how he is super protective of her and why some things in their relationship will never change…

You are on a month-long vacation with your family. Do you have special plans for Raksha Bandhan today?
I took my parents for a holiday to London, but I moved to New York from there, where I’m vacationing with my sisters. So, I am not really going to be with my brother on Raksha Bandhan. I’ve sent a rakhi to him in London. But what’s got me excited is that I am meeting my cousins in America and I’ll be spending the special day with them. I’ve always couriered them rakhis and this time, it’s great that I’m physically present with them on the occasion.

You come from a close-knit family. Growing up, what was your equation with your brother, Rishabh?
Our relationship was like that of any elder brother and younger sister (laughs). He has always been protective of me, but at the same time, we have had a lot of fun and fights. But because there is only a two-year gap between us, more than fights, we used to be playmates. We even decided to start our own detective agency as kids because we were obsessed with CID! Over the years, our equation has changed – we are both busy and we fight less, but he is still one of my biggest cheerleaders.

So, he took the tag of ‘big brother’ seriously!
Yes, he is extremely protective of me and that hasn’t changed even today. Once, I was bullied in school and he came and stood up to them on my behalf. Also, since our parents were working, he felt the need to protect me a bit more. He really played the part of my elder brother very well. He was in charge of me and my well-being.

Have you guys ever ratted out each other to your parents?
Oh yes, but it was all in good humour. My mom would get irritated as we’d end up fighting at the exact moment she’d be on phone. So, we’d always try to wriggle out saying the other person started the fight.

Today, you both rarely get the opportunity to be in the same city. How do you manage to nurture the bond?
In my profession, I am required to travel a lot. Since I am managing a career in three industries, I am shuttling between Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai, and wherever my shoot takes me. I miss a lot of family functions, but my family is very understanding. They know that just because I am bad at calling, texting and keeping in touch, it doesn’t mean I don’t love them.

TAKE FIVE WITH POOJA

The best advice your brother has given you?
He really doesn’t say it, but I see him make that extra effort to keep in touch with family, and that is really nice.

One piece of advice you wouldn’t go to him for?
Relationship advice! We have this very elder brother-younger sister kind of relationship and so, we don’t really talk about boyfriends or girlfriends.

One habit of your brother that annoys you?
He can sleep through anything. So, when you have to head out somewhere, it’s really hard to wake him up. He’s gotten better with time, though.

Who waves the peace flag after an argument?
There’s no race on who does it first. We kind of naturally get over an argument and start talking.

One aspect in which you guys are like chalk and cheese?
I’m the calm one and it takes really long for me to get angry. He is more reactive, but he also cools down faster.