Mangalore's Pooja paired opposite Hrithik in Mohenjo Daro'

July 13, 2014

Mangalore, Jul 13: Model and Bharata Natyam dancer Pooja Hegde will be paired opposite Hrithik Roshan in Ashutosh Gowarikar's much-talked-about period film, Mohenjo Daro'.

After giving hit films like Lagaan', Swades', Jodhaa Akbar', Gowariker is ready to roll cameras for Mohenjo Daro, pre-production of which is in full swing.

“I am extremely happy to have found Pooja Hegde. She is very natural as an actress and has an elegance and poise that will make the character attractive and endearing. Both these strengths with a degree of freshness adds the required spark to the Mohenjo Daro' love story,” Gowariker said in a statement.

Pooja is paired opposite Hrithik in this love story which is set against the backdrop of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The project is slated to go on floors in the last quarter of this year.

Pooja, who hails from the coastal city of Mangalore that has given the Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty, too was excited and elated to have signed a film has big as Mohenjo Daro.

Pooja was the second runner up in the Miss Universe India 2010 and Miss India south 2010 runner up. She was also crowned Miss India South glamorous Hair 2010 and Miss India talented 2009. She debuted as the lead actress in the Tamil film, Mugamoodi opposite Jiiva. She plays the role of a bubbly and fun-loving girl who inspires the male lead to change.

She is currently selected as the female lead for a film featuring Varun Tej. She was featured in the January 2014 issue of the Filmfare magazine, one of the most prominent entertainment magazines of India. She was seen in several television ads for companies including Hero Maestro, Lays, both alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Fair and Lovely.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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