Birthday girl Jacqueline Fernandez opens up about her life, career and more

Jacqueline Fernandez was just another foreign export until she stormed onto the Indian screens with a scorching performance in 'Race 2'. But then with a brilliant screen presence in 'Kick', she showed how being a heroine in a Khan film does not necessarily mean you have to be a showpiece.

But then, Jacqueline is upfront and honest. More than that, she has taken all criticism in her stride and worked for a better tomorrow. Unabashedly straight-forward and charmingly sweet, the beautiful diva opens up about life, career and everything in between.

Passion, glamour, glitz, hard work, ability and expressions: A concoction of which of these characteristics, according to you, is essential for a potential actress?

For me, its all about the expressions, hard work and ability. If any go missing, you won’t be able to thrive on to your position in any field that you specialise in. 

Born in Sri Lanka, what drew you towards Bollywood, which is completely different from your nationality and manoeuvres?

It was not something that I had really planned for. It was actually just an opportunity that presented itself. So it was strange because I knew people in Sri Lanka who were working very hard and setting up an agency here in India. They started calling me up for different kinds of modeling assignments, shows and other stuff which I was taking on. At a later point in my life, I realised that this is a career that might be able to work for me. Rather, it is actually kind of working really well for me and I am getting such a good response from the people. So I thought of trying it out and I moved here for a little bit of time. Within that first month, I was able to crack into the 'Aladin' crew. That time, I just felt that this is something that is knocking on my door right now and I kind of need to grab it before it’s gone. 

Like in your other interviews, you have admitted that your first film wasn’t quite of a struggle for you, actually. It came easier than the way it comes to other aspiring actresses in the industry. 

It definitely was not. The funniest thing about it was without even trying, this project came my way. Now I see that if there is something out there, I become desperate sometimes, but whatever it is, you know you might not get it. So I just realise from my first experience that it is just about being happy with what you get. It is not about becoming desperate or frustrated, but it is just about letting things come your way naturally. In the meantime, you should be happy and feel great with whatever you have already. The time I got 'Aladin', I was not having any expectations and I actually didn’t care much. I was just doing my work accepting whatever came my way, when this fantastic opportunity presented itself. Now that I have been in this field, in the industry for some years now, I sometimes feel, oh my god, I really want to get that project. And it just does not happen because it is not natural and it is not meant to happen.  I feel there are things that are meant to happen and similarly there are things that are not meant to happen, so you should let them happen naturally. So I am like cherishing those 'Aladin' days, and the way I was then. 

And then the critics seemed to be unforgiving with your debut film.

Of course that did happen! The fact was that it did not do well at the box office. But as a launch, it was really good for me; it was just a perfect debut for me. I had the opportunity to work alongside Mr Bachchan and take on this character of Jasmine. All in all, it was a fantastic exposure to the family, the kids, which was good. Then, the struggle kind of started because once your movie hasn’t done well, it can be quite unforgiving. If you are a newcomer, then not from the industry, somewhere from abroad, so there were a lot of things that weren’t working for me. It was then that the struggle did begin. But I have always been grateful for whatever has come my way till now and I don’t have anything to complain.

Now, with two of your successive films running across surpassing the Rs 100 crore line and 'Kick' shattering records even now, you supposedly are on cloud nine now.

Yes, absolutely. For me, you know I would rather start with 'Murder 2'. 'Murder 2' actually was my first hit and I will always be indebted to Mohit for this. I owe the Bhatts and my director friend Mohit Suri a lot. He presented me really well in the movie and then a lot of things started working for me after that. 'Housefull 2' went on to become this Rs 100 crore film and I tried to level the scale of actors trying to better myself in the long run. And this movie with Emraan actually set the balls rolling. Having to get your films do well is really important, that is what I started learning after the 'Murder 2' success. It kind of developed me as an actress in the industry I feel. 'Race 2' was a film that belonged to all of us, not just me. But yes, 'Kick' has definitely upped my confidence and boosted a sense of self-integrity in me. I got the film just at the right time because had 'Kick' not come across, I don't know how long I would have taken to consider myself as an actress.