Exclusive | 'Coolie': Pooja Hegde Reacts to Actor Monica Bellucci ‘Loving’ Her ‘Monica’ Song

At Cannes this year, Monica Bellucci was sent ‘Monica’, the vibrant track from Coolie featuring Pooja Hegde that has been making waves. The Italian screen icon’s response was simple: she loved it.

For Hegde, the message was more than just a kind word. “Oh, really? Wow. That's the biggest compliment ever,” Hegde said when told of Bellucci’s reaction. “I’ve actually always loved Monica Bellucci. She was so iconic in her own way for her persona. She didn’t really need to do much. At the same time, she had a very unique style and a unique voice in terms of how she carried herself. So it was a big feat. But I’m glad. I’m glad she liked it.”

The actor also acknowledged the role fans played in making the connection happen. “I believe a lot of people were commenting on her Instagram, and a lot of Tamil fans were saying, ‘Please go watch Coolie’s song.’”

The timing made the praise even sweeter. As Hegde explained, director Lokesh Kanagaraj had recently told her that 'Monica' was placed in the film for commercial reasons — a statement she took as another high mark. “For a director like him to say that, and put their money where their mouth is by hiring me for that job — and for it to help the film — that’s very exciting for me. It tells me I can contribute to tickets, I bring value. And these are the people whose opinion I should worry about — not so much anyone else’s.”

For Pooja Hegde, who has steadily built a career across multiple industries — from Telugu blockbusters to Bollywood and now Tamil cinema — 'Monica' is another chance to anchor herself in a pan-Indian moment. It’s the kind of role that reinforces her place in big-budget cinema while allowing her to bring her brand of glamour to the screen. That moment unfolds in Coolie, directed by Kanagaraj and starring Rajinikanth, one of Tamil cinema’s most anticipated releases of the year. Set against a high-octane action backdrop, the film blends mass appeal with the director’s signature storytelling style — and with 'Monica', it now has a cross-continental nod of approval.