May 2012, `100

Jacqueline Fernandez

wild at heart

Sizzling lookS & Sexy

extraS

SweetSummer FaShion

the

HOT

Melt-Proof MakeuP

issue

Text by UdiTa JhUnJhUnwala Photographs by TarUn Vishwa

Making an inroad into Bollywood’s labyrinths is no mean feat. and the hoT sTar is doing just that. raring to hiT new highs, she talks to Bazaar about her experiences, growth, and what the future holds.

Charting her Course

Jacqueline Fernandez

Setting the pace. Gown, Theyskens’ Theory. Necklace, `2,75,200

(approx), Delfina Delettrez. Creative director: Nupur Mehta Puri

Fashion director: Priyanka Misra

rowing up in Bahrain, the daughter of a Sri Lankan father and Malaysian mother, Jacqueline Fernandez had little exposure to India and even less to Bollywood. Whenever her father would put on a Bollywood movie, she and her older siblings would slip out of the room. Becoming one of the hottest commercial stars in Bollywood, a part of successful films like Housefull 2 and Murder 2, was neither a constituent of the plan nor a dream of the former Miss Sri Lanka.

“Bollywood was not a part of my growing up years. My father watched a lot of movies, but we could never follow it nor were we interested. Also, the idea of acting in a foreign language didn’t occur to me,” says the 26-year-old who studied in Sydney before moving to Sri Lanka and, after winning the Miss Sri Lanka title in 2006, came to India. “After the win, I got calls for fashion shows and shoots from Delhi and Mumbai. I realised how big the Indian industry was and how good the money was. One thing led to another, and when I was offered Aladin, I thought this might be a good place to expand my horizons.”

Her friends were “shocked” when they learnt about her career change, from an anchor on a local Sri Lankan TV show to an actor in Bollywood. “I have had the most unplanned life,” says Jacqueline, whose parents have been incredibly supportive of her decisions. “My mom didn’t really understand that my role in Aladin was with Amitabh Bachchan, but my dad said that it was awesome, and that I should do it. I remember telling him that I did not know how I would fit; he said that opportunities like this came once in a lifetime.” Modelling and earning from the young age of 13 prepared Jacqueline for her lonely arrival in India, setting up home, and learning to navigate the complex world of Bollywood.

The four years and four movies have not been as easy as Jacqueline had imagined they would be. She describes the last few years as “such a long journey”, during which there were moments when she thought of packing it all in. “You could be lucky and get overnight stardom, but for me, the process was gradual. After my first two films (Aladin and Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai) didn’t do well, I almost had to start again,” she recollects. “Sometimes you are stuck in a puddle, or are having a really bad time, or come back to an empty, messy house and there’s no hot food, you ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’. That happened to me, particularly after the first two years in India. But after that, things began to fall into ➤

gA hide and seek moment. THIS PAGE: Ring (top), `16,500 (approx), Bex Rox. Ring, `3,000 (approx), Amethyst. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dress, `22,000, Vizyon. Cuff, `5,400, Eina Ahluwalia. Shoes, `48,300 (approx), Blumarine.

000

000 000

➤

Going the distance. THIS PAGE: Gown, Oscar de la

Renta. Necklace, `1,69,200 (approx), Delfina Delettrez.

Shoes, Gianvito Rossi. OPPOSITE PAGE: Top, `11,950,

and skirt, `9,500, Namrata Joshipura. Necklace (top),

`4,700, Suhani Pittie. Necklace (middle), `27,600

(approx), Bex Rox. Necklace (bottom), `4,800. Ring,

`3,000 (approx), Amrapali. Bracelet (top), `4,500, Suhani

Pittie. Cuff (bottom), `5,850, Valliyan by Nitya Arora.

000

Eyes set on a new dawn. Dress, `2,17,500

(approx), Salvatore Ferragamo.

place. My friends circle is stronger now, I am more independent, and more confident about my Hindi (she is fluent in English, French, and Sinhalese). All that has made me happier.”

he turning point in her career was the 2011 dark thriller Murder 2, which provided her an opportunity to demonstrate her abilities. “At first, I was not sure if I could pull off such an intense role, but I did and my work was appreciated,” says Jacqueline, currently shooting for the action thriller Race 2.

“I love the line-up of movies that I have had. When you go from Aladin to Murder 2 to Housefull 2 to Race 2, it’s a range of genres and characters. As an actor you always look out for a different role, whether it be a princess or a vixen. To play the girl-next-door every time gets boring. In Race 2, my character is slightly negative which gives me so much more to do. The film has lots of action which I love,” says the “action freak” who loves adventure sports. Her regular fitness routine includes aerobics, gymnastics, advanced yoga, and, off late, the Brazilian martial art of capoeira.

At school, Jacqueline would participate in every team sport possible, from basketball to football. Her other passion is travelling, and she is looking forward to shoots in Greece and Turkey for Race 2. “On vacation, it’s nice to relax and let your body breathe, but I am restless, so I try to pack a lot into my vacations. I always walk everywhere and never hang out in the hotel. If you want to relax you can do that in your bed in Mumbai; there’s no point in wasting a country.”

The Bazaar shoot took her to Kenya, a country she had never imagined visiting. “Kenya is one of the most exotic places I have been to. We went into villages and isolated areas. From the hotel room you could see giraffes and elephants grazing. One day, I saw a lioness and her cub relaxing under a

tree. It was unbelievable,” says Jacqueline, adding, “My Harper’s Bazaar shoots have been the most interesting.” The actress recalls the highly popular Amy Winehouse-inspired shoot she did for the September 2011 issue. “Everyone loved it, it became a rage on the Internet. A friend from Dubai called and said she saw it in Bazaar Arabia. That was really cool.”

Jacqueline’s strong sense of independence and self-confidence reflect in her sartorial choices as well. She describes her personal style as “being myself” and “not dressing for others”. “I have always enjoyed what I have worn. You cannot be living and dressing for other people. Celebrities especially end up dressing to impress.” Quality over quantity is her style mantra, and her preference is for designers like Ralph Lauren, Dolce&Gabbana, Burberry, Dior, Chanel, Prada, and Miu Miu. When it comes to Indian designers and fashion, Jacqueline is cautious. “I rarely wear a sari because I don’t know how to carry it off. I feel the sari is for really special occasions. I love anarkalis and think Rohit Bal is fabulous. I love it when Indian designers give things a twist. And if it’s not different, I won’t wear it. I like Indian boho chic but I don’t know how to access it,” says the actor who is more at home in western clothes.

By her own admission, she is not much of a shopper, nor does she like the pressure to conform. “I am more about seeing something by chance and buying it. London is great for that, especially browsing through the markets. I also love Paris. I am a sucker for limited-editions. Change and innovation in fashion are important to me.”

As an outsider who has found a footing in a new country, a new profession, and forged strong friendships, Jacqueline is clearly someone who embraces change and innovation in all aspects of her life. n

Aiming for success. THIS PAGE: Top, `11,950, shorts, `12,500, and skirt, `9,500, Namrata Joshipura. Necklace, `4,800, Valliyan by Nitya Arora. Cuff (left), `5,850, Outhouse. Bracelet (right), `4,500, Suhani Pittie.

t

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Jungle princess. Gown, `10,95,700 (approx), Roberto Cavalli.

Sizzling siren. THIS PAGE: Top, `14,000 (approx), Nupur Kanoi. Shorts, `3,800, Pankaj & Nidhi. Shoes, Christian Dior. Necklace (top), `8,500, Suhani Pittie. Necklace (bottom), `9,450, Eina Ahluwalia. Ring (left), `3,000 (approx), Amethyst. Ring (right), `16,500 (approx), Bex Rox. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dress, `23,800 Payal Jain. Ring (top), `3,000 (approx), Amrapali. Bracelet, `5,850, Outhouse.

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Queen bee. Gown, `6,04,900 (approx), Roberto Cavalli. Hair and makeup: Daniel Bauer; digital imaging: onelab@gmail.com. Fashion stylist: Akshita Sekhri; fashion intern: Tanima Khosla. Location: Courtesy Kenya Tourism Board. Stay: Courtesy Elsa’s Kopje, www.chelipeacock.com.

A s summer sets in and temperatures soar, we at Bazaar decided to put together the ‘Hot Issue’—your guide to staying chic in the heat. And who

better on the cover than Bollywood’s sweetheart Jacqueline Fernandez, who has sizzled in every one of her movies. India’s favourite import, she stole our hearts the first time we saw her on the silver screen—her perfect pout and sensual demeanor made her an ideal choice for the May cover. So we packed our suitcases and headed straight to the Meru National Park in Kenya, where Jacqueline donned the role of a warrior princess. With the theme of the best of summer blacks, the shoot started in the extraordinary oasis called Elsa’s Kopje, a fabulous resort just outside of Nairobi, perfect for those who have a passion for camping and safaris. Unfazed by the blistering heat, the actress turned on the sexy in seriously cool Oscar de la Renta and Roberto Cavalli numbers, keeping up her performance throughout with absolute ease. Having a strong interest in wildlife herself, Jacqueline was all game to explore the area’s many campsites and outdoor offerings—she even climbed trees in high heels and hobnobbed with the Masai tribe. When not on the shoot, Jacqueline spent time in the private infinity pool of her three-storey cottage. The highlight: Elsa’s Kopje arranged an exquisite bush breakfast wherein they created an amazing spread in the middle of the jungle. The meal was followed by a traditional Masai dance by the tribesmen. n

SceneSBehind the

In the scenic deserts of KENYA, star of the moment Jacqueline Fernandez showcases the best of BLACKS in a

SCINTILLATING cover shoot

Clockwise from top left: The dining and resting area of Elsa’s Kopje; Jacqueline’s fabulous suite; the team poses after a hard day’s work; makeup artist Daniel Bauer adds finishing touches; team Bazaar preps Jacqueline for a shot; Masai warriors strike a pose; creative director Nupur Mehta Puri creates a perfect picture.

By Akshita Sekhri

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