Hindustan Times ·
Once Salman Khan's co-star at 17 in Veergati, this actor battled tuberculosis and now runs a tiffin service
Sharing the screen with Salman Khan gave her career an early push, but the opportunities she hoped would follow never quite came her way.
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.
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.
