Jacqueline Fernandez: Jackie of All Traits

She is a dancer, a movie star and a philanthropist. The gorgeous and multi-faceted Jacqueline Fernandez is in control of her mind, body and soul. She believes in being positive, as she cruises ahead with elegance and aplomb.

She likes to do everything at the eleventh hour, a habit often dispelled by purists.

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And kid you not, even the interview is slotted just hours before the magazine goes into print. Sticklers for deadlines are pulling their hair. “See, I am doing the interview so last minute,” chuckled Jacqueline Fernadez over the phone. I also hear announcements in the background. Her plane is ready for takeoff. I am not happy to hear that. But with a bad network there’s also an assurance. “Let me just land and call you.” Umm…sure, why not? It’s a two-hour flight, and I am not willing to presume that the call won’t come. Two hours straight, add taxiing time and a couple more and presto! my phone rings. I am super impressed. Talking to Jackie (as she is fondly called in the industry), there is one question that you so want to ask her. How does she manage to look like a stunner every time? She is the kind of face that adds copious amounts of glamour to the screen. Ditto is the effect, even when making a public appearance. Women envy her, and men drool over her. She is a shutterbug's delight and enchants everyone with her infectious smile and carefree demeanour. So, does all of this, come naturally to her? “Actually, not at all. This particular side of me has developed over the years. Years back, I was that girl who merrily roamed around in a plain sarong. However, after winning the Miss Universe Sri Lanka and getting into modelling and movies, I started understanding my body and personality and my confidence boosted over a period of time. Honestly, it was more like my alter ego that told me, not to be somebody who was dressed down,” explained Jackie. We couldn’t agree more, though it is also ironical that her best reviews came to her for Brothers, where she was in a de-glammed avatar.

Her attractive and charming personality apart, Jackie’s identity is a sum total of her innumerable experiences in life. Bahrain, Australia, Sri Lanka, India... Her multi-ethnic roots have shaped her life and who she is. “It has been a fantastic learning experience. Being exposed to different cultures has made me more openminded. You get to witness different opinions, different mentalities and attitudes, and that largely influences your thought process,” she described. Talking about growing up, the effervescent Jackie sprang a few more surprises. Though youngest in her family, with one elder sister and two brothers, she still behaved like the oldest of all. “I used to always try to match the elders and ended-up becoming the authoritative one. I think I used to suffer from the older-sister-syndrome,” confessed she, who also gave pocket money to her sister and brothers. How? She started hosting a television show at the age of 14. Easy to understand, where her confidence to face the camera comes from. Having studied mass communication, Jackie has also been a journalist. If it weren’t for movies, what would it have been? “I always wanted to be an actor, or be a part of the media industry, be it in journalism, broadcasting, or being an anchor,” she revealed. But soon after winning the pageant, she found herself in India, doing some modelling assignments. And at the same time, she met people and was contemplating joining Bollywood. However, there also came some warnings. “I remember one lady from the fashion fraternity cautioning me on the perils of being in Bollywood. And honestly sometimes, I do understand why. Also, after some ramp walking and photo shoots, I just felt modelling did not talk to me,” she told us.

Coming to Bollywood, was the industry tricky for an outsider like herself? “There are always challenges. One should not be fake. You should never allow outside forces to change you. I strongly believe that only if you allow others to change you, then only you change. You learn with time. I became wiser and smarter with time,” asserted Jackie. Elaborating further, she also acknowledged how she chose to keep a balance between being a part of the limelight and yet being away from it. “I prefer to concentrate on work. I don't socialise much. I keep more to myself and do my own thing. I prefer spending time with family and friends. I'm not as sociable. I am a loner by choice. And this has helped me stay safe from being scrutinised at all times,” she said with a hint of unexpected candour. Moreover, coming to India, ‘she felt like home’. “There are lots of similarities in the traditions and cultures of India and Sri Lanka. Just like national pride is very dear to both of us,” she pointed out. The more the conversation extended, the more it veered towards who the real Jacqueline was. Even when there are not so great days, she follows a simple fundamental. “It’s never always a joy ride. There are dark days as well. It is actually on you, how much you want to get affected. You could either feel like a victim, or be liberated. I do what feels right. We often hear the phrase, ‘be positive’. This cornerstone is embedded in me and actually works for me. Being optimistic, keeps me going in whatever situation I am. You just need to wake up, clap your hands and it's a new day,” averred the Augustborn true blue Leo. There are ups and downs, but she does count on her best days. “Winning the pageant was surely a huge moment for me. That’s the first time I saw my dad cry. My mom is very chilled out. But he is someone who speaks very few words and is less expressive…To see him in tears was overwhelming. In fact, every time I win an award, it’s a high and it is super addictive. I won the ‘Sri Lankan of the Year’ recently,” said she. Kudos also came in, when she bagged a film with Salman Khan, Kick, which set cash registers jingling at the box office. “It was big news there. It was a huge moment for me and for the people in Sri Lanka as well. I also cherish it as a great learning experience,” said she. And I could almost gauge the sense of pride, through the wire and amidst the noisy background. It’s not hard to decipher that Jackie is an emotional person. She admitted to 'keeping others first before her own interest'. She has a heart of gold and owned up to being “sensitive”, “stupid sensitive”. It is perhaps these qualities that makes the busy actor take out time for philanthropic pursuits and not just as a face or associated name; she actually gets down to grassroot levels and makes an effort to make a difference. Being a die-hard animal lover, it is not hard to guess an association with PETA, wherein she campaigned against the practice of horse-driven carriages in Mumbai. “It is basically about humanity and morale. Animal cruelty cannot be tolerated,” she emphasised. That apart, Jackie closely works with Habitat for Humanity, to help raise funds for building new homes for the homeless. “It is a volunteer system. You literally have to actually camp there and build homes,” she divulged. Coming to her wardrobe fetishes, Jackie almost shocked me with her take. “My life doesn't revolve around clothes and fashion,” she declared. Jackie credits her stylists for all the glam she brings in. “I have a taste for things that can last me forever in my cupboard. I like classic and timeless pieces or limited editions. Personally, I could spend a day in a sarong.” Though Jackie is not into trends and fashion shows, she also uttered, “Everything is everywhere. All thanks, to Instagram.” On much cajoling, the names that come up are Vera Wang, Elie Saab and Balmain. Coming to her fitness regime, it’s perhaps a bit erratic, amidst punishing schedules. “In Bombay, I do yoga and Pilates. And dance is the best stress buster,” said an ecstatic Jackie. She is also a trained ballet dancer. However, she thoroughly enjoys contemporary hiphop, cool and funk. An extension of that can be seen in a reality show, which she judges. “I signed it up because I love dance. I get to see new forms of creativity and choreography. It is a beautiful platform to discuss dance up close and personal. I really enjoy it,” Jackie said with palpable zeal. When on the sets, Jackie believes in sharing a good camaraderie with her co-stars. “It is pointless to not love the people who you are working with. It is always good, to cherish and respect them. It eventually comes across in the film as well. It’s a form of art, creation and energy,” is how she put it beautifully. Jackie also revealed that apart from peers, fans too, keep an actor going. “It is awesome. I feel so much gratitude towards every single fan. However, it is sometimes impossible to be addressing to each and every fan’s request. But the love and attention is indeed fantastic,” she signed off. This time perhaps, she was getting into an elevator!

Who is your favourite Bond?

Pierce Brosnan.

The one flavour you can’t resist?

Anything with peanut butter.

Your pet peeve?

Cruelty towards animals.

Biggest nightmare?

Not getting sleep.

A word that’s always on your tongue?

Seriously!

Something that you want to change about yourself?

My time management.

The biggest turn-off in a man? And the biggest draw?

Under confidence. Intelligence.

One thing that the world does not know about Jacqueline?

Am an open book.

What would you disguise as to cheat the mob?

Simply dress as myself and not in my glamorous side.

Ideal date setting...Mountain top, desert camp or sea side cabana?

Mountain top.

Favourite sport?

Scuba Diving.

Styling by Trishla Chadha. Photographs by Rohan Shrestha.

From the October 2016 issue of L’Officiel India.