Indian actress Pooja Hegde on Deva with Shahid Kapoor, Bollywood trends, and why she's dying to work in Malayalam films

I am exhausted. This is my 50th interview for the day, but I will give you my full attention—every bit of energy I have stored up for you.

I play an investigative journalist named Dia. She is a girl of today—fearless, strong, and not afraid to speak her mind. She is the perfect takkar (equal match) for Shahid’s character. If you’ve seen the teaser, the article that says ‘Police Ya Mafia' attributed to Shahid's character was coined by her. She takes on big challenges without hesitation. For me, this role was very different from anything I’ve done before, which is why I signed the film. Audiences haven’t seen me in Hindi cinema in such a raw, gritty, and intense role. I love challenging myself and showing different facets of my craft.

Honestly, I really don’t know! Personally, I just want to do films that excite me and make my soul happy as an actor. If we start stressing too much about what’s working or not, it diverts us from our job—performing and offering something fresh to the audience. Box office success is important, but it shouldn’t dictate our choices. Sometimes a film does exceptionally well at the box office, and you watch it and think, Why? And then there are brilliant films that don’t do well during their release but are appreciated years later. You never know. Francis Ford Coppola once said that you just need to create something that lasts beyond you. If you do that, you’ve truly won as an artist. That’s what matters most to me.

Exactly! Some films are ahead of their time. Others may not resonate with us in one phase of life, but when we watch them later, they feel completely different. That being said, of course, we want our films to do well. We pour so much effort into them, and as actors, we want people to see our work. But I truly believe that no hard work goes to waste. I recently had a director cast me in a film because he saw an emotional scene I did in another movie. He liked how I performed, and that landed me a new role. So, you never know what will come back to you.

Oh, you should ask Rosshan sir this question! (Laughs) He would probably say, ‘You all have way too much money to make this film!’. But I would love to do a Malayalam film someday. I admire how Malayalam cinema takes simple, everyday scenarios and turns them into something incredibly compelling. Their perspective is unique, and I hope I get the chance to be part of that world.

Yes, he is very intense, but I think you’ve already seen that side of him, so I’ll tell you something different. He has a goofy side! Sometimes when he laughs and talks, you catch glimpses of that. It’s really interesting to see that contrast. But yes, Deva has the kind of Shahid that audiences love to see—gritty, intense, and powerful. He owns these kinds of roles.

It depends on the film. When I signed Deva, I was at a point in my career where I wanted to work with great filmmakers. I realised that as an actor, my career would be defined by the choices I make. Coming from a non-film background, when I first started out, I felt incredibly grateful for every opportunity that came my way. I used to think, 'Will I get another film?' Should I just take whatever comes? But over time, I took a step back and decided to pick roles that show me in a new light.

A good filmmaker can bring out something in you that even you might not have discovered yet. With Deva, Rosshan sir and I met for five minutes, and our conversation just took off. We bonded over our love for David Fincher and similar cinema. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this film.

If you look at my choices now—whether it’s Deva or Retro, my Tamil film—they are completely different. I want to feel excited when I step onto a set. Sometimes you choose a film for the role, sometimes for the director, and sometimes just to be part of a great film, regardless of the size of your role.

Thank you! I hope I surprise you—in a good way.