Once Salman Khan's heroine, she was abandoned by her husband after a cancer diagnosis. Later, she moved into a chawl and worked as a maid. What is Pooja Dadwal doing now?

Pooja Dadwal, once seen sharing screen space with Salman Khan, is now leading a modest life in a small chawl in Mumbai, reflecting how uncertain the film industry can be. Her journey, which recently gained attention after a viral post on X by Nalini Unagar, highlights the stark contrast between early promise and later struggles.

Dadwal stepped into the world of cinema at a very young age. At only 17, she secured a significant opportunity in the 1995 film Veergati, starring alongside Salman Khan. Although the movie did not perform well commercially, her acting drew some notice. Despite this initial visibility, consistent roles did not come her way, and sustaining a career in Bollywood proved difficult.

In an effort to remain connected to the entertainment field, she turned to television. However, success eluded her there as well, and opportunities remained limited. Eventually, she chose to step away from acting, focusing instead on her personal life. After getting married, she relocated to Goa, where she became involved in managing her husband’s casino business.


Her life took a devastating turn when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis along with a severe lung condition. During this challenging phase, she found herself abandoned by her husband and his family, left without financial or emotional support. With no resources to fall back on, she had to seek assistance to survive and receive treatment.

At this critical moment, help arrived from actor Ravi Kishan and Salman Khan, who stepped in to cover her medical expenses. Their support enabled her to undergo treatment and gradually regain her health.

Following her recovery, Dadwal returned to Mumbai and began rebuilding her life from scratch. She moved into a modest chawl and took up work as a domestic helper to sustain herself. Attempting to revive her acting career, she later explored opportunities in Punjabi cinema, but that effort also did not yield success.

Today, she leads a simple and self-reliant life by running a small tiffin service. Her story serves as a reminder that life can change direction unexpectedly, regardless of early success or recognition.