Pooja Hegde Old Interview Resurfaces, Actress Faces Online Trolls

In the old interview with a Telugu news channel, Pooja had reportedly remarked that the South Indian film industry is “obsessed with navels and midriffs.” She had also stated that Bollywood tends to write stronger and better roles for women, comments that many viewers now feel indirectly looked down upon South cinema.

The controversy has resurfaced because Pooja is currently part of a Hindi film whose promotional content heavily focuses on glamour shots featuring herself and Mrunal Thakur. Social media users are now pointing out what they describe as “double standards,” arguing that the same glamour elements she once criticized in South cinema are now being used prominently in her Bollywood projects as well.

Several users online have commented that Pooja appears comfortable doing glamorous roles, bikini sequences, and promotional visuals centered around the same aesthetics she previously questioned. Because of this, the old interview clips are now circulating widely, leading to trolling and heated debates among film audiences.

At the same time, some fans have defended the actress, arguing that performers have every right to choose the kind of roles and films they want to do at different stages of their careers. They also point out that glamour has always existed across industries, including both South cinema and Bollywood.

However, many observers feel the controversy could have been avoided had the earlier remarks about South cinema been phrased more carefully. Industry discussions around the issue now largely revolve around how public statements made years ago can quickly resurface in the social media era and trigger backlash when they appear inconsistent with current choices.