Jacqueliene Fernandez on navigating negative media attention, being a God believer, and giving newcomers time to flourish

Jacqueliene Fernandez’s every response speaks volumes of how aware she is of her surroundings, the cut-throat nature of the entertainment industry, unsolicited judgments that come as a package deal, and rising above the controversies. She has undeterred faith in everything that life has in store for her. "I believe in God. I never really fear anything," she says. Here are excerpts from our conversation. 

Sonal Ved: For the last few months, you've been in the spotlight for reasons unrelated to your work, and some of the attention has not been positive in nature. How do you handle this kind of focus?

Jacqueliene Fernandez: Positives and negatives are always going to be there...But what has helped me the most is giving up this constant desire and need to be loved and realising that this is truly the last illusion we all have and that we all face. This is what has kept me free, humble, and calm.

SV: How do you ensure you keep grace at the heart of everything going on in your life? 

JF: I believe in God, I always have. It's an extremely strong force in my life. And because of that, I never really fear anything. I meditate often. Now I’m able to distinguish between right and wrong people, and I keep my family and good people close. I hold on to my ability to be empathetic as my superpower, and not a weakness. I remain respectful to people, animals, and towards nature.  

SV: You walked into the world of entertainment without a godfather from a film background, and now 15 years later, you’re confident in who you are. Do you still see yourself as an outsider? 

JF: 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.

SV: Since your debut in Aladin (2009), you have been celebrated for your appearance first. In your mind, does that add on or take away from how you view your craft?

JF: The glamour you see 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.

SV: How did you deal with the language barrier in the initial years of your career in Bollywood? What do you have to say about the new batch of talent in the industry such as Vedang, Shanaya, Khushi, and Suhana who don’t necessarily have a hinterland accent either? 

JF: Honestly, I’m still managing the language barrier. 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. 

SV: You’ve worked with the biggest male co-stars, from Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Emraan Hashmi, Salman Khan. What do you think about the male-female parity in the industry today?

JF: We have strong female representation now, which is such a relief! But we can push the envelope a lot more. We can make more women-centric films, create more female protagonists, have more female directors and producers taking centre stage. I would love it if I just heard way more female-centric scripts and female protagonists. Some female actors believe that change is happening, and I am one of them.

SV: Talking about your evolution, what are the things that you haven’t changed about yourself from your Aladin (2009) days to Welcome to the Jungle (2024) days. 

JF: I haven't changed my training mindset. I've had that since day one, and I still wake up around 5:30-6:00 a.m. to train, do yoga, and do my weight training in the gym. I will still take hours to rehearse and perfect choreography. I still get nervous every single time before going on stage. I continue to work with coaches for my diction on a film. My core team hasn't changed since my initial years in the industry. They've just always been with me. 

SV: Unlike a lot of mainstream actors, you’ve never hidden your age, you have in fact said that you were asked to hide your age. Why did you not follow that advice? 

JF: I do believe the truth will eventually come out. So be truthful on something so organic and natural like your age. The more you embrace it, the more empowered you feel. I love the process, and I feel proud of it.

SV: Tell me something about your fitness and beauty rituals that no one knows about yet. Are there any traditional Sri Lankan practices you follow till today?

JF: My Sunday workout routine can go up to three hours with a mix of yoga, weights and dance. I get asked, ‘Oh, I want to have the same legs as you'. I put in effort and work out aggressively. I'm strong, and I've done this over many years. I take care of what I eat. I am conscious of what’s healthy and what’s not. There was a time it was just for aesthetics, but I don't do it for aesthetics anymore. I want to feel good and strong. I want to maintain an athletic and agile physique. I do red-light therapy and cryotherapy. I rest when I need to. I have a strong foundation for fitness. I ensure I get a facial once a month and I do a drip, which replenishes all my vitamins. Growing up on a diet rich in coconut oil and coconut milk, which Sri Lankan food has plenty of, has been amazing for my hair and skin.

Editor: Rasna Bhasin (@rasnabhasin)

Digital Editor & Interview: Sonal Ved (@sonalved)

Photographer: Akula Madhu (@madetart)

Stylist: Harsdhad Gadhvi (@harshad.fshn)

Cover Design: Mandeep Khokhar (@mandy_khokhar19)

Editorial Coordinator: Shalini Kanojia (@shalinikanojia)

Hair Artist: Marce Pedrozo (@marcepedrozo)

Makeup Artist: Namrata Soni (@namratasoni)

Photographer Assistants: Gaurav Yadav (@gaurav_yadav8969); Anil Jaiswal (@aniljaiswal_)

Styling Assistant: Mrunmayee Phanse (@mrunmayee.phanse)

Hair Assistant: Harry Singh (@harrysingh_93)

Makeup Assistant: Ridhi Matreja (@makeupbyridhi/)