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Fame Fades, Resilience Shines: Actress's Second Chance
4 May
Summary
- Teenage actress fought severe tuberculosis after career decline.
- Salman Khan's foundation aided her medical treatment in 2018.
- She now runs a tiffin service, seeking acting work.

Pooja Dadwal, who began her acting career at 16, experienced a rapid rise and fall in the film and television industry. After appearing in films like Veergati in 1995 and the Zee TV show Gharana in 2001, her professional life took a downturn.
Her health deteriorated significantly, leading to a severe tuberculosis diagnosis that damaged both her lungs. During this crisis, she was abandoned by her family, with only Rajendra Singh offering support and ensuring she received medical care.
In a 2018 video, Dadwal appealed to Salman Khan for help, which resulted in his Being Human foundation covering her medical expenses. This intervention aided her recovery from the life-threatening illness.
Despite surviving her ordeal, Dadwal faced further challenges, including unwanted attention and exploitation attempts. She expressed a strong desire for work, not charity, to regain dignity. She now lives in a small room and operates a tiffin service to support herself, saving meager amounts daily.
Dadwal remains hopeful for a return to acting, emphasizing her commitment to not choosing the wrong path. Her story highlights the fragility of fame, societal indifference to illness, and profound personal resilience.