For some actors, a Bollywood debut can feel like the beginning of everything. This actor was only 17 when she got her first big break, opposite Salman Khan in Veergati. Sharing the screen with one of the biggest stars of the time gave her career an early push, but the opportunities she hoped would follow never quite came her way. She eventually walked away from acting, got married and moved to Goa. Years later, her life took an unexpected and painful turn.
A dream debut at 17
The actor was Pooja Dadwal. Born and raised in Mumbai, Pooja had wanted to act since she was young. Her big break came in 1995 when, at just 17, she was cast opposite Salman Khan in Veergati. For a teenager making her debut alongside one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, it looked like the start of something big.
But things did not quite work out that way. Veergati failed to make much of an impact at the box office, and the film offers Pooja had hoped for did not come her way. She tried her hand at television and appeared in shows such as Aashiqui and Gharana, hoping to find more consistent work.
After some time, Pooja chose to step away from acting altogether. She got married and moved to Goa, where life took her in a completely different direction. Instead of film sets and auditions, she began managing a casino with her husband and settled into a life far removed from the world of Bollywood.
When life took a devastating turn
Years after leaving films, Pooja found herself going through a crisis she could never have imagined. In 2018, she was diagnosed with severe tuberculosis and was also battling serious problems with her lungs. Her health quickly worsened, leaving her weak and struggling to afford the treatment she needed.
Things became even harder when, according to reports, Pooja was left without support from her husband and in-laws. She returned to Mumbai with very little money and no one she could depend on. At one point, a well-wisher helped get her admitted to a government hospital.
With her medical expenses mounting and her condition getting worse, Pooja eventually turned to social media for help. She recorded a video asking people, including those she had worked with during her days in the film industry, to come forward and support her.
Her plea for help eventually reached people from her film days. Salman, who had worked with her in Veergati, stepped in to support her, while Ravi Kishan also came forward to help. Salman took care of her medical expenses for six months, making sure she could continue her treatment when she was struggling to afford it. Pooja has since spoken about his support and how much it meant to her during one of the most difficult phases of her life.
Speaking to Instant Bollywood, she had said, “I have this second life today, it is only because of him.”
Starting again from a 10×10 room
Beating tuberculosis was only the first step. Pooja still had to figure out how to earn a living after losing the career she had once hoped would support her. She moved into a 10×10 room in a Mumbai chawl and worked as a domestic helper to get by.
She made one more attempt at acting in 2020 with the Punjabi film Shukarana: Guru Nanak Dev Ji Ka, but it did not change her circumstances. Pooja eventually decided to find work outside the industry. With help from director Rajendra Singh, she started a tiffin service from her home, cooking meals and delivering them to customers.
Today, Pooja’s life is far removed from the one she had imagined when she entered films at 17. She no longer has the film industry around her, but she has found a way to earn for herself and keep going.