DQ41: Pooja Hegde joins Dulquer Salmaan; makers release a glimpse

Pooja Hegde will play the female lead opposite Dulquer Salmaan in SLV Cinemas' upcoming film DQ41, the company formally announced on Wednesday.

With a new project, Pooja Hegde, who last appeared with Shahid Kapoor in Deva, is set to make a comeback to South cinema. The Rosshan Andrews-directed film Deva debuted in theaters on January 29 of this year and is now available for streaming on Netflix.

Pooja has been struggling with a series of box office setbacks despite her fame and enormous fan base. But her fans are getting excited again after her most recent announcement.

Pooja Hegde will play the female lead opposite Dulquer Salmaan in SLV Cinemas' upcoming film DQ41, the company formally announced on Wednesday. "Welcoming the enchanting @hegdepooja on board for #DQ41," the production company wrote when sharing the news on X.

The gorgeous @hegdepooja will add her charm to #DQ41 ❤️ ▶️ https://t.co/yatAweTnxM Stay tuned for more updates.#SLVC10 Starring @dulQuer & @hegdepooja Directed by @ravinelakuditi9 Produced by @sudhakarcheruk5 under @SLVCinemasOffl Music by @gvprakash Cinematography by… pic.twitter.com/IscMF9wXDZ

— SLV Cinemas (@SLVCinemasOffl) September 10, 2025

On the big screen, DQ and Pooja's chemistry will be incredible. Watch this space for additional updates. With music by GV Prakash and cinematography by Anay Om Goswamy, the film will be directed by Ravi Nelakuditi and produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of SLV Cinemas.

According to the makers' initial reveal, Pooja is portrayed as a straightforward, girl-next-door character. Fans are already excited to see the new chemistry between the two, especially since Dulquer is starring in the movie.

With movies like Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Cirkus, and Radhe Shyam underperforming at the box office, the actress has recently been through a challenging time. In addition, she hasn't starred in a Telugu movie for almost three years. She might make a significant return to South cinema with DQ41. It might mark a sea change in Dulquer's career if her next song, Jana Nayagan, becomes popular in early 2026 and DQ41 does the same.

Pooja is preparing for a hectic schedule in Bollywood in the meantime. In David Dhawan's upcoming film, which is tentatively titled Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai and has already generated buzz due to its novel pairing, she will be seen opposite Varun Dhawan. She has been cast in high-profile movies like Thalapathy 69 and Suriya 44 in the South.

Fans are hoping Pooja Hegde will recover well and take back her place as one of the most bankable stars in all industries, especially with such a full lineup.