Pooja Hegde on Handling Film Flops: The Importance of Allowing Actors to Fail

Time of India

3 days ago

Actress
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.
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'It is great to work with Vijay'
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.
'Coming from a non-filmy family, you really have to hustle very hard to get your projects'
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.
'I don't take successes to heart because when failure happens, you have to take that also to your heart'
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.
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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.'
'We are actors, we have to be allowed to fail'
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.
"