Unapologetic And Empowered: Jacqueliene Fernandez

Pants: AFEW Rahul Mishra, Knit top & earrings: H&M, Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Jackie Oh!
Unapologetic and empowered, Jacqueliene Fernandez is ready to take on 2025 with renewed vigour. The actor opens up about learnings, and unlearnings in a freewheeling chat with Karen Alfonso

Photographs: Suresh Natarajan
Styling: Divyak D’Souza
Art direction: Bendi Vishan

Jacqueliene Fernandez has a face card that doesn’t decline. With cheekbones that could cut glass and features a Disney princess would be proud of, it’s no wonder her first-ever film role in Bollywood was as Princess Jasmine in Aladin (2009). But Jacqueliene is more than just that. She boasts an impressive resume that showcases her versatility as an actor – whether it is her action-packed role in Kick (2014) opposite Salman Khan, her impeccable comic timing in Housefull 3 (2015), or her beguiling vulnerability in Roy (2015).

Adding to her appearances in music videos, dance cameos and a stint as a judge on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, this year Jacqueliene also decided to flex her singing skills, making her debut with ‘Stormrider’, a single she collaborated on with LA-based record label Myst Music. The song has already amassed 8.4 million views on YouTube, bearing testimony to her immense popularity among her fans.

Walking into our cover shoot, she’s disarmingly easygoing and fun – even doing a headstand in heels multiple times, holding each pose for over two minutes. Never losing her smile – the woman is a trooper! It’s easy to see that she loves the camera. And that it loves her right back.

As we trace her evolution from ingénue to superstar, Jacqueliene shares unexpected truths about life, her take on living, her newfound success as a singer, and her expectations of the year to come…

Tell us a little about growing up in Bahrain and coming home to India?
My family roots are in Sri Lanka, so I am South Asian by origin. I grew up in Bahrain, a beautiful desert island in the Middle East. It was a great place to grow up in because it was safe and very cosmopolitan. There was a beautiful amalgamation of different cultures within Bahrain so we had a great childhood. Because of the blend of cultures, I never felt the need to fit in. I never felt a need to rebel or stand out in any way. The only thing that seemed alien to a lot of people was the fact that I wanted to pursue acting. It wasn’t really a popular choice of career.

I have always been fascinated with other cultures, absorbing and learning from them. Living in India, I developed an interest in practising yoga and meditation and studying a lot of Eastern philosophy, particularly the teachings of the spiritual master Paramahansa Yogananda. My time out of home has shaped a lot of how I am today.

Dress: Fierce London, Rings: Harsha Ambady, Boots: Twenty Dresses

How has your style evolved over the years?
My style has simplified over the years. I used to love very bright and extremely unique styles, sometimes bordering on the eccentric. Right now, the space I am in is not really about following any trends. I think it’s more about me. It’s more about who I am, what I am comfortable in, and about me fearlessly being myself. Even if a trend comes along that I actually do like, I don’t want to be a slave to what colour I need to be wearing this season, or what style, or what brand. I just want to be liberated in how I want to dress, what I want to wear, what colour I choose. I think it’s about just finding what you really like and going with that, and being really comfortable and fearless with that decision.

Being a public figure, there’s always the pressure to look flawless. How do you balance staying authentic while embracing beauty and fashion trends?
Flawlessness is a myth and our audiences are now intelligent enough to not always expect that from us. In fact, I feel that audiences love to see people as they are, how you are at home without all the glam. I always wear what I’m comfortable in. If every individual in society tried their best to not be so judgemental online and offline, it would encourage more authenticity from everybody, whether it’s a celebrity or a regular person.

You’ve opened up in the past about having PCOD and how it affected your skin…
I’ve had skin issues since childhood. I’ve had eczema, and acne has followed me into my adult life. It was difficult because you’re worried about it being captured on camera and it did make me lose my confidence at times. Then I realised that these are probably things that I could really heal with a good diet and some lifestyle changes, which I have made along the years. I’ve made changes in my choice of food and in my lifestyle as well; I’ve completely omitted dairy and I try to have less gluten.

Dairy was a big one for me because I think that aggravated a lot of my skin issues. My eating is a lot cleaner now. I really want to give my body the best food that it can get in terms of what would be beneficial, what has the most nutrients, what is the cleanest. Doing that has been a really good learning experience for me and the results have been amazing – I’ve seen an immediate change in everything, my overall energy, my skin…

Pants: AFEW Rahul Mishra, Knit top, earrings: H&M, Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Your definition of beauty…
Over the years, I’ve changed my focus from aesthetics towards balance and how something makes me feel – whether it’s a workout or an outfit. If it makes me feel good and I’m at peace with it, I go for that over the aesthetic and the superficiality of it.

You are known for being dedicated to fitness. What motivated you to start your fitness journey?
For me, fitness is therapy. I’ve always come out of a session of yoga, the gym, or dance just feeling so much better and so much more accomplished. We tend to do what we love most without excuses – and, for me, that’s fitness. It’s been a part of my daily life for over two decades. I consider it a part of my profession as well, so that does give me a lot of motivation to keep up. Over the years and as I get older, I’ve realised it’s not just about keeping up or that I need to stay fit for my job; it’s really about how I get better just overall in life. How do I get stronger? How do I keep my mind focused? This is all part of the package. Fitness is a massive part of that because discipline is involved – you can never ever stop learning. And that’s how I always want to live my life.

Lace leotard & pants: Rudraksh Dwivedi, Earrings: Besoin Studio, Rings: Anayah Jewellery, Celestic Jewels, Shoes: Christian Louboutin

What does fitness bring to your life?
Having a 360° approach to fitness is so important. It all boils down to the basics. If you lead a lifestyle that has movement and workouts, time spent in nature, if you focus on eating healthy meals, hydrating, sleeping well, staying away from sugar, from alcohol, smoking, all these toxins, and, of course, spending lots of quality time with your friends and family – this is a great start for a healthy life and I really feel you cannot go wrong.

From a mental perspective, I do breathwork and meditation every single morning. This is the most important part of my day and it helps me deal with stress and anxiety. I feel it’s very important for us to connect with ourselves. It’s something, I feel, we have stopped doing or are doing less of. I give myself that time in the morning to really connect, to set my intentions for the day, to pray, to be grateful, and to connect with my breathing. For me, these are the essentials of life.

You featured in the video for Yimmy Yimmy, which became a viral sensation. Tell us about the experience of working on this song. Did you anticipate such a massive response?
I’m very picky about the songs I choose, but, when Yimmy Yimmy was presented to me, I knew I could do justice to it. Shreya Ghoshal has done wonders with the lyrics and Tayc is such an incredible artist – he makes really soulful music. The choreography was done by Shazia Piyush, and it was not something I was really used to doing but I pushed myself and it worked out really well. We shot in freezing temperatures and had 20-hour shoot days – it was harrowing but we all knew it would be worth the effort. It’s definitely one of my favourite songs to date.

Mini Skirt & Top: House of Khaddar, Necklace: Isharya, Choker: Anayah Jewellery, Earrings: Harsha Ambady

You’ve been part of several songs that have become hits and are now a big part of pop culture. How would you like to be perceived by future generations?
I really believe in living in the moment. I don’t want to think too much about future generations and perception and legacy. Who can guarantee that? What guarantee do we have? It also comes down to who you are living for. I want to live for myself. I want to be in the present moment. I want to enjoy the little moments of life. I want to be with my friends and my family when I need to be with my friends and my family, and not be pressured by fame or by legacy. I genuinely feel there are more important things in life than that. If I can entertain my audiences, if I can make a difference in the world with the causes that I support while I’m alive, that’s truly enough for me.

Singing is the new chapter in your career. How is it being behind a microphone compared to in front of a camera?
Acting and singing both let me express myself in very different ways. When I’m in front of the camera, I’m bringing a character’s emotions and journey to life; it’s a lot of imagination. I love using that part of my mind because, as you get older, it’s not something that you tap into much. When I’m behind the mic, it’s my own emotions and experiences th.at I’m channeling. It’s very intimate. It’s a small studio, you’re there alone, and there’s something extremely personal about singing. It’s just my voice and my story. Every lyric, every note feels like a piece of my soul. It’s like putting a piece of my heart out there for people to connect with. It’s a new kind of storytelling.

While acting is very collaborative, music feels more intimate – like having a direct conversation with my audiences. And that’s what I really love. The creative fulfillment from both is incredible, though, and I love how they challenge me to grow in different directions.

What advice would the Jacqueliene of 2024 give the Jacqueliene who first stepped onto a Bollywood set in 2009?
The advice I would give younger Jackie would be something I read recently – ‘Spend your time in the company of geniuses, sages, children, and books. These four things. The beauty of life lies in the diversity of influences that shape us. Geniuses challenge us to expand our thinking. Children rekindle our sense of wonder and we should always have that whether we’re adults or not and books open the doors to endless knowledge and understanding.’ That’s something I would definitely tell my younger self.

Tell us your thoughts about living life right now…
From an external perspective, I think there’s wisdom in knowing that ageing is normal, and every one of us will be going through it at some point. Internally, nothing else can bring you the kind of mental clarity and maturity
that real-life experiences can. I’m grateful for the good experiences and even more grateful for the lessons I’ve learnt through the bad ones.

What does a lazy day in Jacqueliene’s life look like?
They’re usually very rare but, on my ideal lazy day, when I do get one, I like to be in my pajamas the whole day, and I like to binge watch a TV show and just cuddle with my cats.

Lace leotard & pants: Rudraksh Dwivedi, Earrings: Besoin Studio, Rings: Anayah Jewellery, Celestic Jewels, Shoes: Christian Louboutin

What’s your favourite way to decompress after a particularly long day on set?
A really good head massage – nothing feels more relaxing than a really good champi!

The new year is upon us. Are you a resolutions person? Any you would like to share with us for 2025?
I’ve actually stuck to all my resolutions these past two, three years. Meditation was a massive one for me this year. Getting into vegetarianism, into veganism, and into under consumption was another big one for me. I was able to
really commit to all of these over the past couple of years.

I think 2025 is going to be a year I go deeper into figuring out what a balanced life for me would be. My parents are getting older, so I’m definitely looking to spend more time with them. The new year will be a balanced
time of work, projects, dream projects, and time with my parents, and hopefully joining the 5AM club. If there’s one little niggling resolution that I want to actually keep in 2025, it would be joining the 5AM club. 2025 is also going to be about pursuing work projects that excite me. I plan on taking things on courageously and independently.

Makeup: Shaan Muttathil, Hair: Priyanka Trehan, videography: Abhishek Trivedi, Makeup assistance: Reshuu Mahanti, Styling Assistance: Sana Khan, Hospitality Partner: Cafe Muttuswami

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