[11][12][13] Gandhi made her acting debut in 2001 with the Hindi film Khatron Ke Khiladi opposite Raj Babbar.

[25][26] In 2023, Gandhi married her long-time friend the businessman Vijay Ghorpade in accordance with Kuvempu's Mantra Mangalya concept.

[30] Gandhi received praise for her performance as aNandini in the film; Indicine.com's critic stated: "Sanjana makes a confident debut".

[31] She then acted in Milana with Puneeth Rajkumar; it was theatrically released on 14 September 2007, gained commercial success and completed a 500-day run in theatres.

[citation needed] In the same year, Gandhi acted in Krishna with her Mungaru Male co-star Ganesh, it was a financial hit at the box office, completing 100-days.

[citation needed] She was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award; Sify's critic wrote: "Pooja Gandhi looks pretty and has done a good job".

[35] In 2010, Gandhi made her Telugu debut opposite Nandamuri Taraka Ratna and Poorna in Mukkanti, which was a financial failure at the box office.

Critics praised Gandhi for her performance; Rediff.com said she "walks away with acting honours", and called her "a stunner with her vain looks sans makeup throughout the movie and she has lived her role exceptionally well".

[49] Business Standard's critic stated:Pooja Gandhi as the leader of the gang is brilliant and extremely confident in her role.

While some may typecast her performance as cheap and unwelcoming, I believe it takes guts for a regular heroine to shed her image and agree to play such a gritty part.

The writer Sunayana Suresh of The Times of India stated: "Pooja Gandhi in her uninhibited avatar is another person who deserves applause".

[62] Pooja Gandhi and the film Dandupalya were criticised by the social group Bahujan Samaj Horata Samiti for a scene, which they said is offensive.

[63] Pooja countered this claim, saying: "According to the dictionary, nudity means that you are not covered with a single item of clothing from head to toe.