Salman Khan once introduced a young face to Bollywood who seemed destined for stardom, but life had a very different script in store, turning her journey from film sets and spotlights to survival struggles in a Mumbai chawl.
That actor is Pooja Dadwal, who entered the industry at just 17 with the 1995 film Veergati, sharing screen space with Salman in what was seen as a dream debut for any newcomer.
Even though Veergati failed at the box office, Pooja’s performance caught attention, and for a brief moment, it seemed like she had the potential to carve a solid place for herself in the industry.
However, film offers slowly dried up, forcing her to shift focus to television, where she appeared in shows like Aashiqui and Gharana, but the success she had hoped for in films never quite came her way.
Eventually stepping away from acting, she chose a quieter life, got married, and moved to Goa, where she worked alongside her husband managing a casino, seemingly settling into a different phase away from the limelight.
Her life took a devastating turn in 2018 when she was diagnosed with severe tuberculosis, a condition that not only impacted her health but also completely changed her personal and financial situation.
At her lowest point, she was reportedly abandoned by her husband and in-laws, leaving her alone in Mumbai with no financial support, battling a serious illness and struggling even for basic shelter and care.
During this difficult period, she was admitted to a government hospital with the help of a well-wisher, Rajinder Singh, as her condition worsened and survival itself became uncertain.
Help eventually came from the film industry, with actor Ravi Kishan and Salman Khan stepping in after Pooja shared a video seeking help, with Salman covering her medical expenses for six months, a gesture she later credited for saving her life.
After recovering, Pooja’s challenges continued as she moved into a small 10×10 chawl in Mumbai, worked as a domestic help to survive, attempted a comeback with the Punjabi film Shukarana: Guru Nanak Dev Ji Ka in 2020 which didn’t succeed, and now runs a small tiffin service while continuing to live a modest life.
