Pooja Hedge reveals she slapped a star hero for inappropriately touching her, ‘he entered my caravan without permission and...’

Pooja Hedge reveals she slapped a star hero for inappropriately touching her, ‘he entered my caravan without permission and...’

• Pooja Hegde faced inappropriate behavior from a male co-star early in her career.
• She refused to work with the actor; her scenes used a body double.
• Pooja's decision not to name the actor sparks speculation and support online.

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Actor Pooja Hegde has spoken candidly about an unsettling incident she faced during the early phase of her film career, revealing that she experienced inappropriate behaviour from a male co-star while working on a major pan-India project.

In a recent interview, Pooja recalled how she was thrilled when she landed a big-budget pan-India film at the beginning of her career. Working opposite a star hero, she said, felt like a major milestone.

“I was extremely excited when I got that film. It felt like a big opportunity and gave me a lot of confidence,” she shared.

However, the excitement soon gave way to distress following an unexpected incident during the shoot. Recounting the experience, Pooja said the male lead entered her caravan without her consent and behaved inappropriately.

“A few years ago, while working on a big pan-Indian film, a star hero entered my caravan without permission and tried to touch me inappropriately,” she said.

Pooja admitted that the moment left her shocked and mentally disturbed. “I was extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t know how to react initially,” she recalled, adding that the incident occurred at a time when she was still new to the industry and unsure about how to handle such situations.

The actress revealed that she eventually reacted strongly to the misconduct. “I immediately slapped him. After that incident, he never worked with me again,” she said.

Pooja said that the actor left the caravan immediately after the confrontation.

Following the incident, she made it clear to the filmmakers that she did not want to share screen space with the co-star.

As a result, her remaining portions in the film were reportedly completed using a body double instead of her acting alongside him. “I decided I wouldn’t tolerate that kind of behaviour,” she added.

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Despite the seriousness of the allegation, Pooja chose not to disclose the identity of the actor involved. Her decision has led to widespread speculation within film industry circles and on social media, with many trying to guess who the unnamed star could be. At the same time, several voices have praised the actress for speaking up about her experience.

On the professional front, Pooja Hegde is currently associated with Jana Nayagan, starring Thalapathy Vijay.

The film, which is being promoted as Vijay’s final project before stepping away from acting, was initially slated for a Sankranti release. However, the makers have postponed the release, with a new date yet to be announced.