Mumbai: Well-established heroines based in South Indian film industries with fan followings are being increasingly cast in mainstream Hindi films as Bollywood grapples with a thinning bench of bankable female stars.

Unlike in the past, when south-based actresses entered the Hindi film industry at a very early phase of their acting careers like Vyjayanthimala, Rekha and Hema Malini, in recent years, well-established south-based actresses such as Rashmika Mandanna (Cocktail 2, Animal), Sai Pallavi (Ek Din, Ramayana), Keerthy Suresh (Raftaar), Nayanthara (Jawan, a new untitled film with Salman Khan) and Pooja Hegde (Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai) are filling the gap in mainstream heroines in Bollywood, producers, casting directors and distributors told ET.

In the past few years, the pool of dependable and well-established heroines has shrunk. This is a key reason why filmmakers are considering established south-based actresses, casting directors said.

“Today, the pool of established Hindi film heroines is relatively small. Also, accessing this pool can often be a lengthy and complicated process. In contrast, many south-based actresses are highly professional, approachable and easy to collaborate with. Even audiences enjoy seeing fresh on-screen pairings,” said Kunal M Shah, a casting director known for works such as Phule and Bhaukaal.

“For instance, the pairing of actor Salman Khan and actress Nayanthara in one of my upcoming films is creating buzz. Also, Bollywood filmmakers have a much wider and more exciting talent pool to choose from with south-based heroines in contention,” he explained.

“On the one hand, well-established Hindi film actresses such as Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt are entering a different phase of their careers. On the other hand, the frequent failure of films featuring the new crop of very young actresses has proven that they lack striking talent. This has shrunk the pool of mainstream heroines in Bollywood,” observed Shaaminder Malik, a film distributor and trade analyst.

Also, economics favour casting well-established south-based actresses, producers said.

“Established south-based heroines have pan-India appeal thanks to their acceptance among non-south audiences through dubbed films. Casting these actresses in mainstream Bollywood films also boosts collections from their home territories,” said producer Vishesh Agrawal.

Producers also cited factors such as rootedness, freshness and the range of south-based heroines as reasons for their increasing presence in mainstream Bollywood films.

“Today, the industry is compelled to rethink the archetype of a mainstream Bollywood heroine. Audiences are demanding fresher, more rooted and more authentic female leads,” explained Suniel Wadhwa, co-founder and director of Karmic Films.

“Established south-based actresses have been successfully filling this gap with their range and suitability for both rural and urban roles,” he added. “For instance, Rashmika Mandanna looks suitable not only as a village woman in the Pushpa franchise films but also as an urban mainstream heroine in Cocktail 2,” he explained.

Though there is a shift towards casting established south-based heroines, casting directors bemoan the larger problem of a lack of interesting roles being written for heroines.

“Though there is no denying that the new crop of heroines in Bollywood either look very young or lack acting chops. Also, their exposure on social media is relatively higher than that of south-based heroines. But where are the interesting roles for heroines in today’s films?” said a casting director, requesting anonymity.

Few actors wear their heart on their sleeve quite like Varun Dhawan. As he gears up for the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by his father David Dhawan, the actor joined us at the Bombay Times Lounge, driven by Jeep, and was at his most unfiltered — cracking jokes, sharing memories and reflecting on the highs and lows of life in the spotlight. From comedy and criticism, to family, fatherhood and fame — the conversation moved effortlessly between laughter and emotion, offering a glimpse into the man behind the star. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store. The promo is out now; catch the full conversation soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

I love comedy and I appreciate anyone who can make me laugh. Let comedy flourish and let people laugh. I feel we all need comedy. Yes, serious cinema should be made, in fact, after Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, I’ll be doing a film which is very different. But it is important to have laughter in our lives

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When Main Tera Hero (2014) first released, there were so many things said, like: He’s a very loud actor, he’s this, he’s that. I was being labelled left, right and centre. When it was re-released last month, I was shocked to see the way people are loving it and responding to it. I am out there to promote Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, but Main Tera Hero is being spoken about so much (laughs)

— On Main Tera Hero’s second innings and finding a new generation of fans

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People say Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is a two-heroine film, but if I am a hero in the film, it’s because of Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde. I can’t even call myself a hero here, I am a red flag in the film. I feel if my character shines, it will be because of their support. When you do a David Dhawan film, it’s like a family. My father’s health was up and down through it all and there was a time when he was in the ICU. Everyone from the cast, from the girls to Maniesh Paul and Jimmy Shergill, gave so much love to him and made this film happen together

— On the cast of Hai Jawani… & the family spirit behind a David Dhawan film

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It has become very difficult to keep the illusion, keep the mystery alive. Today, look at how many cameras we have around us. You’re being covered from every angle, everything of your nature is being broken down to a content piece. And even your psychology is being discussed, your body language and your speech is being discussed. I think over-coverage has broken the illusion (of stardom)

— On how stardom has become fragile with excessive exposure

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What I have realized is — whether you love me, whether you don’t like me as much, the point is, I matter. I get discussed. People either cheer for me or criticize me, but I get a reaction from them. The scariest thing for me would be to do something which people don’t react to. Nowadays, we often don’t even know that a film is releasing. So, whether it is through love, through discussions or trolling, at least I’m being discussed and my films are being discussed. I feel that is important

— On why indifference is far scarier than criticism

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Talking about the trolling that he faced prior to the release of Border 2 and how the narrative changed post release, Varun said, “I learnt a lot about God’s screenplay. When you do a film like Border 2, there’s so much responsibility on you. When you work so hard on a film that is so genuine – about the army and your country – you feel, abhi yeh sab accha hi hoga. Why will anything negative happen? So, when that negativity emerged around me, I was like…yeh kaise ho gaya? Yeh, toh mere entertainer films mein hota hai. Why is this happening with this film? I feel that sometimes God takes you down just to lift you up again. That’s exactly what happened to me. I let my work speak for itself. In fact, post the success of Border 2, I didn’t give any interviews around it, I am talking about this with you now.”

I slowed down after Lara, my daughter was born. I realized that this is so special, I am enjoying this so much and I don’t want to miss out on this. Of course, my love for cinema remains unchanged. I’m totally in the service of cinema, and I want to create better films, better characters and I know that I have a lot more to offer

— On how fatherhood made him change his pace

Actress Pooja Hegde is all set to reignite her much-loved on-screen pairing with Tamil superstar Vijay, in what is expected to be his final film before retiring. With a career spanning 12 years across multiple industries Pooja sits down to discuss her journey.

Talking about her reunion with Vijay for his final film, she says, "I’m very excited because of course it’s a Jodi that's kind of been a hit with Arabic Kuthu and Beast. And it’s great working with him. He’s just so professional and such a nice person. So, it’s great to work with him because he just makes it very easy," Pooja says, brimming with enthusiasm.

While she acknowledges the bittersweet nature of Vijay’s retirement, Pooja is keen on celebrating the journey. "Of course, a part of me is sad that it’s his last film because we love to watch his films, and I mean, I love his films. And more than anything, it should just be treated as a celebration,” she adds.

Pooja, who has been a part of multiple blockbusters and also a few duds in the recent pasts, reflects on how her definition of success has evolved over the years. "My definition of success has changed over the years," she admits, before adding that this phase of her career is particularly significant.

"I feel like my lineup this year, the kind of films I take now, will define what kind of actor I am for the rest of my thing. Coming from a non-filmy family, you really have to hustle very hard to get your projects. I've managed to establish myself to one level and now I want to move to the next level,” she explains.

Pooja’s ambitions are clear – she seeks to work with good filmmakers, take on roles that push her as an actor, and earn critical acclaim, all while balancing the mass-appeal films that her fans adore. She adds, “That's my goal right now. I want to work with good filmmakers. I want to do the right kind of films which pushes me as an actor for critical acclaim as well. Yes, I've had blockbuster successes. I’ve had six blockbusters back-to-back. However, I think you’re only a success until you perform the act and then you have to do it again. I don't take successes to heart because when failure happens, you have to take that also to your heart. But I want to push myself to do better work, to do good films, to do good roles and leave a memorable filmography behind. So that's where I'm at. Also, I am an entertainer. So, I do want to continue doing the big blockbuster, Mass Masala films because there's also that audience, which are my fans. So, I think it's a mix of both where I want to work with good filmmakers and have commercial success.”

Pooja’s recent films, especially in the Hindi front such as Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Cirkus, and Radhe Shyam were box office disasters. On the topic of failures and how she handles them, Pooja speaks with refreshing candor.

“I've been able to predict it. There are some films when you're making it, you feel it. Nothing has come as a big shock to me. But we are artists, we are actors, we have to be allowed to fail, because unless we aren't allowed to fail, we will not give you anything new. You cannot, expect every time you're gonna do the same thing and it's gonna work out. At the end of the day, I'm not at the edit table. I am not making the film. I am not writing the story,” she says thoughtfully.

For Pooja, it’s about giving her best to every project. "Did I do my best to that particular role? Yes. From the films that were offered to me, were these my best options? Yes," she asserts. “It will be a trial and error. It will be. It's a process. It's a roller coaster. Right. There'll be ups, there'll be downs, but as long as you're having fun while.”

She adds, "When I had my successes, I just thought, ‘Wow, this film did well. Let's move on to the next’. I don't think I even celebrated my successes that much, which sometimes I feel like I should have. Because when my films didn't do well, I didn't think too much of it either. I was like, okay, fine. I learned something from it. And I move on. I also think that if you have given your hundred percent to any film, there will be somebody who will watch your film and you will get something from it for sure."

Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s hit track Chunnari Chunnari from the film Biwi No.1 (1999) is a fan favourite even after more than two decades.

A recent decision to remake the song for the upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai — starring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, and Mrunal Thakur — however, has not gone down well with fans of the original. Videos of the trio shooting the revamped version in London have gone viral, leading to criticism and trolling.

Ask Abhijeet, the original voice behind the song, for his reaction, and he tells us, “Mujhe music composer, film ke director, kisi ne nahin bataya ki iss song ko remake kiya ja raha hai. Himmat bhi nahin kar sakte batane ki.”

Surprisingly, though, he admits that the track was never one of his favourites. “For me personally, Chunnari Chunnari was one of those ‘Jaldi gaao aur bhaago studio se’ songs. This was one of those where the makers wanted the lyrics to become a hit anyhow.”

He adds, “For the past 25 years I have heard it being played at functions and thought, ‘What is it about the song?’ But I do realize it has become iconic for fans.”

Having said that, does he mind that the song has been reimagined? “Mujhe farak nahin padta itni chhoti cheez se,” the 66-year-old says. He explains, “I don’t get involved much. In the market, more copies are sold than the original. Only great people know the value of the original. Tuchchi cheez mein main padta hi nahin hoon.”

Pooja Hegde, who has been a part of successful movies in Telugu and Tamil cinema, started 2025 with Deva. Talking about making a breakthrough in Bollywood, the actress, who made her Hindi film debut with the Hrithik Roshan-starrer Mohenjo Daro in 2016, says, “Who doesn’t want to make it big in Bollywood? Which actor has ever said ‘no’ to this? One definitely wants to succeed, and you never know when a film will come along and change things for you.”

Pooja, who is originally from Mumbai, appreciates how welcoming South filmmakers have been towards her. She says, “When you’re not from the industry, it’s not just about whether the audience gives you a chance, but whether the industry does. Every film becomes crucial because I don’t have someone producing films for me or reassuring me that even if one doesn’t work out, they’ll make the next one for me. You get fewer opportunities. I’ve built my career by constantly hustling. It’s been an upward journey, and every film has been vital for me. Every film can make or break you, and you need to push through if it doesn’t work out to secure your next project. So, I never take my work for granted.”

Pooja, who was featured in Housefull 4, hopes for more opportunities in Bollywood. She reflects, “I grew up watching Bollywood films, so the decisions I make regarding Hindi movies are very emotional for me. I’m thrilled that some of my South films have crossed boundaries and reached the Hindi audience. Now, I want to do more Hindi films and strike a balance.”

The actress, who will next be seen in the Tamil film Retro with Suriya, believes that it is important for actors to be open to the projects that come their way, irrespective of the language. “You never know who’s watching you and sees something unique in you,” she says, adding, “My goal is to leave behind a legacy of work that is good, no matter the language. While growing up, many films inspired me, and I, too, want to be a part of movies that make a lasting impact.”

For Dulquer Salmaan and Pooja Hegde, 2025 seems to be the year of love. While Salmaan is filming his romantic drama, Aakasam Lo Oka Tara, Hegde has the rom-com Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai lined up for release next year. Now, mid-day has learnt that the two stars are set to team up for a yet-untitled Telugu romantic drama.

“The makers were keen to cast a fresh jodi. Dulquer and Pooja have never shared screen space together despite being among the prominent names in south cinema. So, the makers felt bringing them together would add novelty to the story,” reveals a source. The project is expected to go on floors in late 2025.

In his 12-year career so far, Salmaan shone in several romantic dramas, from O Kadhal Kanmani (2015) to the much-loved Sita Ramam (2022). After back-to-back thrillers in Chup: Revenge Of The Artist (2022), King Of Kotha (2023) and Lucky Baskhar, he is excited to return to love stories.

Another insider says, “Dulquer enjoys exploring different facets of love through his offerings. He is charged about the romantic dramas in his line-up, considering they are starkly different from each other.”

The film will be a change of pace for Hegde, who will open the year with the action thriller, Deva, opposite Shahid Kapoor. She also has Thalapathy 69 opposite Vijay, and Suriya 44, followed by Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, led by Varun Dhawan.

We have learned that Pooja Hegde has been roped in to star alongside Varun Dhawan in David Dhawan’s upcoming directorial venture. This is contrary to previous reports suggesting actress Sreeleela, who has predominantly worked in South films such as Guntur Kaaram and Bhagavanth Kesari, among others, will make her Hindi debut with this film. Sources close to the project confirm that Pooja has been chosen to play the leading lady, marking her first collaboration with Varun.

When we reached out to Pooja, she said, “I have a bunch of announcements coming. I just let the production house announce it. Going ahead, you are going to see me in different roles. This year, I decided to take a step back, watch my entire filmography, and decide what I want to do next.”

The yet-to-be-titled project also stars Mrunal Thakur and marks the reunion of the father-son duo (Varun–David) after a decade.

Earlier in an interview, Pooja spoke about reflecting on her journey. "I’ve taken moments to reflect on my journey. With my relentless work ethic, I often find myself moving from one project to the next, keeping busy. However, when I do pause and cast a glance back at my career, it’s a humbling realisation. Not bad for a shy, introverted girl with stage fright and no connections in the film industry. I didn’t have a godfather to pave the way, but it seems the universe had its own plans. There’s still a long road ahead, with a list of esteemed filmmakers I aspire to collaborate with, characters I’m eager to portray and plenty yet to prove," she said in an interview.

“She is calmer than me — that she gets from her dad. I am more hyper,” says Lataa Hegde of her daughter, actor Pooja Hegde. With that out of the way, she rattles off a long list of similarities between her and Pooja: “We’re both very ethical — we always stand by our word. We’re both home birds. We have few friends but solid ones. We’re also very hard-working. If we set our minds on doing anything, we will achieve it.” There’s one more thing yet that Lataa says she and her daughter share.

“We’re great multi-taskers, and ambitious. Pooja has definitely got that work keeda in her, and that ambition — that you got to be somebody, she definitely got it from us,” she tells us.

It is perhaps this last quality that enabled the 64-year-old to achieve what she has in life. The true-blue Mumbaikar, Lataa did a BSc in Life Sciences before pursuing a course in Public Relations from St Xavier’s College, besides studying Marketing Management from Jamnabai Bajaj Institute of Management Studies.

Lataa wanted to study Medicine, but since seats were limited in Mumbai, her “typical South Indian family” didn’t allow her to relocate. “My family said to get married and then go wherever I want,” she adds.

Lataa, who got married at 25, goes on tell us how she completed her MBA after that. “I was carrying my son, Rishabh. I finished the course and he was born,” she says.

After completing her master’s in Marketing Management, she got a job in advertising. But she had to let go of that before long. “My husband was in advertising, too, and one of us had to get out of it. I was clear that we wanted two children and would have them not too far apart. So, till they were four or five, I had to be a stay-at-home mother. Two years later, Pooja was born. When she turned four, I realized I wanted to get back to work,” she recalls.

Entrepreneurship followed after that, and Lataa started a business in computer education and software development. “As a working mum, I divided my time between work and raising my school-going children,” she says.

In bagging films that span different languages, Pooja Hegde may have fulfilled her acting ambitions. But, there is still one goal that she feels is a distant one—getting a bound script to prepare for a role. It was assumed that only decades ago were actors expected to work without a script. “It still pretty much happens,” she smiles.

The actor, who features in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, says, “I have never [had the chance to] rehearse for a film. I envy people who have bound scripts. Sometimes, I am given my lines on the set, and sometimes, a while before.”

Even while working on Salman Khan’s film, which has failed to impress critics, Hegde says she received her lines on the set. “We just figured out [the lines] on the set. This experience has made me a better actor. But, here, I know the language, so it’s easier to memorize it. Having a bound script before going to shoot is the [ultimate] dream,” she says, adding that the tendency to go-with-the-flow is less common among new-age directors “who prepare a lot before they come on set because they like to have things figured out”.

Her filmography may boast of big-budget hero-driven movies including Allu Arjun-led Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham, and Maharshi with Mahesh Babu. However, films of this kind, she agrees, are criticized for significantly under-utilizing their female stars.

But Hegde views this scrutiny differently. “The grass is always greener on the other side. When you do too many films of this type, you begin to harbour desires of doing something different. But, there are some people who play meaty roles and want to do these kinds of movies instead. I don’t come from a film family, and have pieced my career together, one film at a time. I didn’t have 20 films offered to me to choose from. I took what was available at the time. I selected what I thought was right. Would I like to do more? Of course. But this has been my career, so far,” she signs off.

Salman Khan, who is readying his production Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan for an Eid release, is set to unveil the film’s fourth song, Bathukamma, today. The peppy number celebrates the annual flower festival that is held across Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh for nine days in the months of September-October. Interestingly, the idea to include a song marking Bathukamma came from south superstar Venkatesh, who returns to Hindi films after 28 years with Farhad Samji’s directorial venture.

A source reveals, “When Venkatesh mentioned the festival that is celebrated with pomp in the south, Salman loved the idea. He asked music director Ravi Basrur to compose a song dedicated to it, which would be picturized on the entire cast of the action drama.”

The foot-tapping number sees Khan and Venkatesh shake a leg with co-actors Pooja Hegde, Raghav Juyal, Jassie Gill and others, all dressed in traditional attire. The source adds, “The team shot the number, with 200 background dancers, during the Bathukamma festival last year, in real locations across Hyderabad. It is Salman’s tribute to the rich Telugu culture.”

Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan is said to be an adaptation of the Tamil film, Veeram (2014), which revolves around a man whose four younger brothers want him to get married so that they can settle down too.

Earlier this week, Pooja Hegde injured her foot after suffering from a ligament tear. While the actress is disappointed to sit out with a bandaged leg during the festive season, she’s looking at the silver lining – spending Diwali at home with her family. “After a long time, I will be spending Diwali at home, so I’m actually looking forward to spending time with my family on this special day. I initially wanted to host a Diwali gathering at home by inviting family over and cooking for them, but that will now have to wait for another time. However, I’m looking forward to spending the day with my loved ones, lighting up our home and gorging on wonderful food,” says Pooja.

The Radhe Shyam actress reveals that she was born around the time of Lakshmi puja, which makes this a special time of the year in her life. Pooja says, “I was born during Lakshmi puja, which is why my parents named me Pooja. What Diwali means to me has changed over the years. As a child, it was all about food, crackers, lights, rangoli etc. As I grew older, I realised that this is the time of the year to also be your own Lakshmi – be financially independent and secure. Being a homeowner myself, just having something for the house, something of my own, is truly special for me.”

She adds, “Having said that, my mother is still the Lakshmi of my life – she manages all my finances and investments, which is great because it allows me to focus on my work. But I make sure to have something of my own during Diwali.”

Growing up in Mumbai, Pooja loved decorating her house and gorging on sweets, a tradition she continues to follow. “Being a foodie, everything in my life has always been associated with food. I’d always look forward to gorging on snacks and sweets during this time of the year.”

Pooja says, “My mom and I used to make chaklis together, and I loved the process of making and then relishing them. I was always in charge of doing the rangoli at home, so that’s something I would really enjoy. It’s a tradition that has carried on with me through the years. We used to get holidays, so we’d go visit my grandfather and other relatives, decorate our home with a lot of light and have a gala time.”

As Pooja grew older and started working, most of her festivals were spent on the sets of films rather than at home. “You don’t get to spend all Diwalis at home because of commitments at work. But that’s okay. My parents are very understanding, and I also feel that it’s lucky to work on some auspicious days. On the day of Lakshmi puja or Diwali, if I work, I consider it auspicious. I love working on my birthdays; I make sure I spend at least half a day at work on my birthday every year. I feel like it’s the start of the new year in a way, so it’s a sign of good luck,” she says, adding, “Even when I’m travelling abroad or busy shooting, I always make sure to follow the little traditions. I still make the rangoli, and I tell the cook to prepare payasam on Diwali day. This, I feel, is important. Otherwise, when you’re working, one day blends into the other, and you don’t even realise when the festival has come and gone.”

Pooja may have missed out on spending her favourite festival at home, but the actress says she has realised the importance of taking time off for herself. “When I had my leg injury, I took it as a sign from the universe telling me to take a break. Being a workaholic, I tend to power through even when I’m tired. I actually feel guilty for taking time off work to go on holidays. This year, I came to the realisation that it’s okay to take a break to look after yourself. This July, I took a month off and went on a nice long vacation with my family. It was a much-needed break, and I had a lovely time and came back fully refreshed,” she says.

This Diwali, Pooja hopes to take big strides in her career. “I feel like I have a lot to prove as an actor and do a lot of exciting roles, work with a lot of interesting directors and make a name for myself. So that’s my goal for this Diwali. I hope this year brings a lot of light, warmth and of course, movies to my life,” she signs off.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From mid-May, Salman Khan has been giving his undivided attention to Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. The superstar was to take three days’ break from the shoot to front Da-Bangg The Tour Reloaded in Nepal. However, with the show getting postponed due to the local elections and poor weather, he will devote the time to Farhad Samji’s directorial venture. It is heard that Khan has lined up a non-stop month-long schedule in Mumbai and Telangana.

A source from the creative team says, “Salman was to fly to Kathmandu yesterday to perform at Da-Bangg The Tour. But, after the show got postponed, Salman sat down with Farhad and reworked the dates. He will film his portions over the week at Mehboob Studios in Bandra, before leaving for an awards gala in Abu Dhabi on June 3. While he does his hosting duties in the UAE, Farhad will continue filming with the rest of the cast in Mumbai, only to be joined by Salman by June 5. After a week-long stint in the city, the team will go south in mid-June. A massive set of a village has been built in Kokapet, where the director will can two crucial tracks — one focusing on Salman’s character and his on-screen brothers, and the other dedicated to leading lady Pooja Hegde. The entire cast, including south star Venkatesh, will be present during the month-long spell.”

Khan is supervising every aspect of the film that is slated to hit the marquee on December 30.  “The action sequences have been designed by Anbu-Arivu, while Prabhudheva is handling the choreography,” adds the source. 

There has been much drama on the Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali front even before the film went on floors. Now, actor-producer Salman Khan is gearing up to ensure that the drama is restricted to the camera. Tomorrow, the superstar will begin shooting for Farhad Samji’s directorial venture that also stars Pooja Hegde, Aayush Sharma and Zaheer Iqbal. We hear the first pit-stop is the Golden Tobacco factory in Vile Parle.

Over the past two weeks, the production design team has been hard at work, building two sets at the site. A source reveals, “One of the sets is that of a metro station. The first scene will be filmed at this set-up. Shooting at a real metro station was not feasible due to crowd management problems, so the makers chose to erect a huge set instead.”

After wrapping up the 10-day schedule, Khan and the team will move to Mehboob Studio in Bandra for an extensive schedule.

Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali is lined up for a December 30 release. While the movie was to be initially produced by Khan’s close friend and collaborator Sajid Nadiadwala, the superstar took over production duties after Nadiadwala reportedly wanted to rework the film’s budget and script.

Actors Akshay Kumar and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, music maestro A R Rahman, Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej and actor R Madhavan are among those from the field of cinema and music who will walk the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the 2022 75th Cannes Film Festival, as part of the Indian delegation led by Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

Other names from the Indian delegation that will walk the red carpet include CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur, CBFC board member Vani Tripathi Tikoo, actresses Tamannaah Bhatia, Pooja Hegde, Nayanthara and folk artiste Mame Khan.

This year, Cannes’ Marche’ Du Film will celebrate India as its Official Country Of Honour. As part of these celebrations, the Palais des Festival premiere of R Madhavan’s Rocketry: The Nambi Effect will take place on May 19. The restored version of G Aravindan’s Thamp will also be screened at the film market.

This will be the first time that the market will have an official Country Of Honour and is expected to continue this tradition during its future editions. The India Forum will be the first event to open the conference program of the Marché Du Film on May 19, where the panel discussion, India: The Content Hub of the World, will feature Prasoon Joshi and Shekhar Kapur, among others.

The centenary celebrations of Satyajit Ray will continue at Cannes as a restored classic of the filmmaker — Pratidwandi— will be screened at the Cannes Classic section Cinéma de la plage.

In a career spanning about a decade, actor Pooja Hegde has only done two Hindi films. Talking about her sporadic Bollywood career, Hegde says, “After Mohenjo Daro (2016), I waited, and after a big gap, did Housefull 4 (2019) because the banner was good. That film was a stepping stone for me. It gave me Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali and Cirkus (her upcoming Hindi movies).”

Quiz her if she was unsatisfied with the offers coming her way, and the 31-year-old says, “It was a conscious decision to not do Hindi films. I didn’t want to do them just for the sake of it or do roles that didn’t matter to the storyline. I’ve been offered films opposite big stars, but those characters didn’t add any value to the script.”

During her time away from Bollywood, she worked intensively in the Tamil and Telugu film industries and created a fanbase for herself, which she believes gave her the confidence to navigate through her Hindi film career.

“My biggest boon is that the Telugu audience has accepted me as one of their own. The south has given me so much respect. And that gave me strength to pick and choose the films I wanted to do in Hindi. Sometimes, it (Bollywood) can be a little unforgiving if you aren’t from a film background or you don’t have the right push; it takes some time to get the kinds of roles that you want to do,” Hegde elaborates.

But the Radhe Shyam actor is happy that she is taken more seriously today. “After Most Eligible Bachelor (2021) did well at the box office, people began to take me more seriously and began to think that I’m more bankable because it grossed Rs. 50 crore. Now, I’m getting a lot of female-oriented films,” Hegde wraps up.

With the shoot of Tiger 3 in its last leg, we hear that Salman Khan will soon turn his attention to Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. The superstar is expected to kick off work on Farhad Samji’s directorial venture in the first week of April. The director intends to begin with a bang — sources say the shoot will commence with Khan’s entry sequence that involves a helicopter chase.

“The production team has locked the shoot date as April 1, with Salman joining in the same week. The first sequence is a massive action set-piece for which the stunt directors have been summoned. It will be shot at Helipad in Film City, Goregaon,” reveals a source.

Sajid Nadiadwala’s production, also featuring Pooja Hegde and Zaheer Iqbal, has already booked the December 30 window for release. The film reportedly sees Khan portraying the eldest brother in the family who refuses to get married, believing it will disrupt the harmony.

“It is being envisioned as a slick action drama. The film’s scale will be much more lavish compared to Salman and Sajid’s last collaboration, Kick [2014]. The team wants to finish all action scenes before moving to the emotional bits,” adds the source.

The upcoming romantic drama, Radhe Shyam marks Pooja Hedge’s first association with actor Prabhas. And its trailer has created a buzz among fans about the actors’ chemistry. Quiz Hegde about it and she says, “Chemistry is something that just happens.”

She adds that while Prabhas is known to be shy, he is jovial within his circle of close friends. And that, she feels, is what contributed in “creating magic”. “Sometimes you know someone really well but it doesn’t translate on screen, and sometimes you meet someone for the first time, but it just clicks, magic happens... I would like to believe that we look really good together,” Hegde, 31, shares.

This isn’t the first time that her chemistry with a co-star has been noticed. Her rapport with actor Allu Arjun in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) also grabbed attention. Hegde says, “People say that I share great chemistry with most of my co-stars, be it Allu Arjun, Akhil Akkineni (in Most Eligible Bachelor; 2021) or Hrithik Roshan (in Mohenjo Daro; 2016). I love love stories. And I love to give my all in a scene. Maybe that translates on screen.”

As she looks forward to Radhe Shyam, she can’t help but ignore the comparisons to Titanic (1997). So, how did she react to sound engineer Resul Pookutty’s claim that the former’s climax is bigger than that of the cult classic? “I started sweating,” she laughs, adding, “If you see a sinking boat in a film, you end up comparing it to Titanic. Having said that, I’m relieved in a way as I feel we have been able to accomplish a similar kind of production design and scale.”