Happy to be in the mad race

She sure is serendipitous as she got an opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood’s superstar. When Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez decided to move on from the ramp to the silver screen, she knew it would be a tough road ahead. But what came her way was the golden opportunity to work in Bollywood.

Jacqueline, who is debuting in Aladin, has everything that a film heroine requires — great figure and stunning looks. The chirpy girl is all excited about her movie but she is taking it slow, unlike the newbies who snatch just about any offer that comes their way.

She thinks Bollywood is a tough industry because everybody is trying to do the same thing and get to the same place. "It's a mad race. There's no time to stand and stare,” says Jacqueline. 

But she doesn't look anything like a Sri Lankan? "Oh, there are varied influences,” she says and explains that she owes her looks to her mother, who is a Malayasian.

Entering Bollywood was not part of Jacqueline’s agenda. And she says she didn't have to make much of an effort to jump into acting. “You need to be focussed a lot and be damn confident about yourself, or just be ready to be left out," she says.
 About her character Jasmine in Aladin, she says, “It is a fantasy film with a contemporary twist. It's set in a typical college and I thought this would be a perfect break for me,” says Jacqueline who has also signed up for her next film, Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai where she plays an alien from Venus. 

“Unlike ramp, in cinema you have to make that extra effort to look good all the time,” she observes and adds, “you have to keep yourself attractive 24/7.” Yoga, jazz ballet and a balanced diet keep this young lady in perfect shape.

Commenting on actors and celebrity couples going in for endorsements, she says, "I think it’s high time models were given a chance to endorse, so that they could come into the limelight."

Jacqueline is in absolute awe of Big B and says he has a certain infectious calmness about him.

Jacqueline began her journey in the world of modelling at the age of 13 from Bangalore. She recalls that she'd rented a small apartment in the City and has walked its every street. "On my drive from the airport to the hotel, I realised how much Bangalore has changed," she concludes.