Pooja Hegde Replaced by Mamitha Baiju in Dhanush’s Next—What This Means for Both Stars
After a string of underperformers, Pooja Hegde misses out as Malayalam newcomer Mamitha Baiju steps in for Vignesh Raja’s Dhanush film.
Veteran star Pooja Hegde, once the toast of multiple industries, has faced a recent string of box‑office setbacks—from Radhe Shyam and Beast to Acharya, Circus, and Retro. Now, she’s lost another big-ticket role: director Vignesh Raja’s upcoming film with Dhanush. The part has gone instead to rising Malayalam talent Mamitha Baiju, who’s quickly making her mark in Tamil cinema alongside heavyweights like Vijay and Suriya.
Why the Swap Matters
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Momentum Shift: Pooja’s recent lineup of high‑profile releases hasn’t delivered, denting her demand.
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Rise of Mamitha: Fresh off acclaimed performances in Malayalam, Mamitha brings new energy and a growing fan base to the project.
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Industry Reality: When one role slips away, the film world moves on—producers back talent they believe will maximize buzz and box‑office returns.
Pooja’s Road Ahead
Despite this setback, Pooja isn’t sidelined. She still has major projects lined up with Rajinikanth, Vijay, and Raghava Lawrence. One strong performance can reignite her trajectory—she simply needs a standout hit to reverse her recent slide.
What This Means for the Dhanush Film
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Fresh Pairing: Dhanush and Mamitha’s chemistry will be a key talking point, offering a fresh dynamic.
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Market Impact: Mamitha’s rising popularity in Tamil and Malayalam markets could broaden the film’s pan‑South appeal.
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Production Timeline: With this casting lock, the team can finalize the schedule

