Jacqueline Fernandez

SHOWBIZ ICON

The Bollywood idol who sports a charming demeanour

Four years ago, when LMD’s second female Sri Lankan Of The Year (SLOTY) was announced, we wrote: “It is in this milieu that we turn our attention to someone who is unique; someone with Sri Lankan roots who dares to be an exception to the rule; someone who has brought a refreshing breath of fresh air amid the pollution we’re accustomed to dealing with… Enter Jacqueline Fernandez.”

That was when beauty and capability merged to produce a powerhouse in none other than Bollywood – a celeb in the making who captivated Indian and international audiences alike, and was the pride of Sri Lanka.

“Her success comes as a blessing for the country’s image as well – an image that’s been battered for too long by two senseless insurgencies, a protracted civil war and other misdemeanours that have put Sri Lanka in the news for all the wrong reasons,” we added.

Jacqueline Fernandez had already landed roles in multiple Bollywood blockbusters alongside prominent Indian co-stars. She was also to make an impact on the local silver screen through a much awaited biopic, which she described as “a Sri Lankan movie; a Sri Lankan production that has a Sri Lankan director.”

In fact, Jackie’s influence in showbiz was so strong that she had already featured twice on the cover of LMD’s sister magazine – Living. In an exclusive interview with Living back in 2013, she described working in one of the most demanding industries in the world as “an exciting opportunity.”

And during her tête-à-tête with the lifestyle magazine two years later, she explained her rise as a personality in the public eye by noting that “any actor tackles struggles and drama every day, but being able to survive and deal with them is another dimension.”

That holds true to this day, we might add.

As Ruwandi Perera wrote in LMD’s December 2017 Cover Story, “ever since she was conferred the coveted title ‘Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe’ in 2006 at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, Jacqueline Fernandez has been imprinting her dazzling looks, vibrant personality and refreshing character on those who’ve come to know her; be it on the silver screen, at global events or even in the Sri Lankan wilderness where she works for the conservation of wild elephants.”

Fernandez was crowned Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe and represented the island at the 2006 Miss Universe pageant in Los Angeles.

Hailing from a multi-ethnic family comprising her Sri Lankan father, Malaysian-Canadian mother, elder sister and two elder brothers, Fernandez has been in the limelight since her formative years in Bahrain’s capital Manama where she hosted a TV show at the age of 14 – a profession she later briefly pursued in Sri Lanka as well.

Having read for a degree in mass communications at the University of Sydney, and with subsequent stints at the Berlitz School of Languages and the Barry John Acting Studio, “she is the perfect combination of beauty, brains, charm, talent… and yes, hard work,” the writer remarked.

What’s more, Jackie is a quintessentially ‘global Sri Lankan’ not only because of her local roots – combined with an ability to speak several languages (including Spanish, French, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi) – but her natural ability to appeal to any audience across the world… from being photographed at a young age for the Los Angeles Times (Orange County edition) to starring in the British horror movie Definition of Fear (2015) and winning multiple awards as one of Bollywood’s most popular actresses of our time.

Positioned among the crème de la crème of Bollywood, she was ranked third in The Times of India’s list of ‘Most Desirable Women’ in 2013 and 2014, and placed 24th in India’s edition of the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2016 – ahead of celebrities such as Katrina Kaif, Sunny Leone, Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan, we might add.

Fernandez’s acting debut in 2009 saw her star in Sujoy Ghosh’s fantasy film Aladin alongside Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. She then appeared in the sci-fi romantic comedy Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai before landing a role in Mukesh Bhatt’s thriller Murder 2 in 2011… and the rest, as they say, is history.

Ruwandi’s succinct summing up puts all this in perspective: “For hundreds of thousands of fans, Jacqueline Fernandez is more than a talented actress, an ardent activist and a beautiful individual; she is a role model and an inspiration for what someone can achieve, with the right combination of talent, hard work and determination…”