Jacqueliene Fernandez reflected upon her 15-year journey in the film industry. She also opened up on dealing with her language barrier during the early years of her career.
Model-turned-actress Jacqueliene Fernandez stepped into the Hindi film industry with Sujoy Ghosh’s fantasy drama, Aladin in 2009. Over the years, the actress who doesn’t hail from a film family, went on to establish herself as a prominent actress with her share of hits and misses at the box office.
In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar India, Jacqueliene was asked if she still feels like an outsider even after spending more than a decade in showbiz.
In response, the actress said, “I would say that some days, you do feel like an outsider. On other days, I think it’s fine to accept that we do not come from the film industry, and therefore have a different story to tell. But one thing I’ve learned over the years is that you eventually figure out your way in this profession. You’ll have a strong intuition about the people you enjoy working with, the conversations that interest you, and so on. It’s a personal effort that you need to put in. As for my experiences, I’ve learned that the industry never really shies away from those who work hard and are genuinely dedicated to their jobs.”
At the beginning of her career, Jacqueliene who was raised in Bahrain was harshly criticized for her poor Hindi speaking skills.
When asked to share her opinion on the newcomers like Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor who don’t necessarily have a hinterland accent either, the actress admitted that she herself is still managing the language barrier.
“Jacqueliene said, “I train and work hard on it—speaking and performing in a language that is not my mother tongue and battling a perception that I am weak in the language. I love to see myself getting better in that field and approaching it more positively. Regarding these rising stars, it’s a little too early to say anything. I remember my initial years as well. It was a nightmare for me because I was badgered by the critics pretty harshly. It was only after my third film, which was Murder 2 (2011), that I was able to gain some positive judgments and constructive criticism, which then led to Housefull 2 (2012) and Race 2 (2013). It did take me that much time. They will always be in the spotlight and likely face even more pressure, as their every move is under scrutiny. There’s no right or wrong in this context. There’s just honesty towards your work.”
Jacqueliene is also known for her glamorous avatar, both on and off screen. Talking about if that changes the way she views her craft, she said that the glamour that one sees is a collaborative effort of many teams coming together.
“Looks can be an asset, but they don’t define my craft or the time, effort, and dedication I put into it. It always feels great and is flattering when you get compliments about your looks. But what matters to me is to have a healthy mind and a toned physique, which shows discipline and focus. The most exciting part about being an actor is how I can portray different characters and be versatile. That’s how I’ve always wished it to be,” the ‘Kick’ actress told the magazine.
On the work front, Jacqueliene will next be seen in Ahmed Khan’s multistarrer, Welcome To The Jungle and Sonu Sood-starrer Fateh.
