Jacqueline Fernandez

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CAPTION: Jacqueline Fernandez

Beauty pageant titleholder Jacqueline Fernandez at the launch Gillette's new range (cropped 2).jpg Fernandez at the launch of Gillette's new range, October 2013. Born (1985-08-11) 11 August 1985 (age 29) Colombo, Sri Lanka Occupation Actress, model Years active 2006-present

Jacqueline Fernandez is a Bollywood actress, former model, and the winner of the Miss Sri Lanka Universe pageant of 2006. She is best known for her work in Hindi films. After graduating in Mass communication, she worked as a journalist in Sri Lanka, whilst also modelling. Fernandez made her acting debut in 2009 with Sujoy Ghosh's fantasy drama Aladinwhich bombed at the box-office, though she won the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year - Female and the Stardust Award for Best Exciting Face. Fernandez gained recognition with a role in the erotic thriller Murder 2 (2011), which emerged as her first commercial success and followed it with glamorous roles in the comedy Housefull 2 (2012) and the action thriller Race 2 (2013), both of which were major box-office successes. In 2014, Fernandez portrayed the leading lady in Sajid Nadiadwala's Kick (2014), which emerged as one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all-time and established herself a promising actress of Indian Cinema. Alongside her acting career, Fernandez is a social activist, participates in stage shows, and is a celebrity endorser for brands.

Early life and pageantry

Fernandez was born on 11 August 1985, into a mixed ethnic family, in which her father is a Sri Lankan, while her mother is of mixed Malaysian and Canadian ancestry. Her great-grandparents were originally from Goa, India. She is the youngest of four, with one older sister, and two older brothers. Although, she was raised in Bahrain, she said she originally lived in Sri Lanka. Prior to become a TV reporter, she started hosting TV shows in Bahrain, when she was barely fourteen years old. After graduating in Mass Communication from Australia, she moved to Sri Lanka, where she relocated at her grandparents place, and joined a Television station. From then, she began reporting and investigating mainly on political turmoil. According to an article published in Lanka Journal, she had aspired to become an actress, when she was eight years old. Although, she was a TV reporter, she accepted offers to join the modeling industry, which came as a result of her pageant entrance and for which she was crowned the Miss Sri Lanka Universe 2006, and represented her state at Miss Universe 2006 held in Los Angeles where she was unplaced. In 2007, Fernandez appeared on her first commercial in a music video for Sri Lankan duo Bathiya and Santhush.

Acting career

Fernandez made her acting debut in the 2009 Bollywood fantasy movie Aladin playing a character inspired by the Disney Princess character of Jasmine. For her performance, Fernandez received mixed reviews, with Anupama Chopra of NDTV calling her a "plastic debutant". However, Taran Adarsh of BollywoodHungama complimented her more on her looks, rather than her performance by saying, "Jacqueline Fernandez gets no scope, but she looks gorgeous nonetheless. In year 2010, she was seen once again appearing alongside Ritesh Deshmukh in the romantic comedy Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai. She received mainly negative reviews for her performance. Rediff criticized her by writing," She gamely makes a fool of herself whilst aping the actions of movie stars, ranging from Sridevi's Naagin dance, Mithun Chakravarthy's Disco Dancer moves to Big B's violent headshake in Hum. Her Tara could be a keeper if only Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai wasn't so intent on turning her into a love-struck Barbie. That year, she made a cameo appearance in Sajid Khan's Housefull in the song "Dhanno".

In 2011, Fernandez appeared in her third film, Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Murder 2 which emerged a major economic success. Fernandez played the role of Priya, a lonely model who is in a confused relationship with Arjun Bhagwat, played by Emraan Hashmi. Fernandez grabbed a lot of attention for the boldness and sex appeal she displayed in the movie, with her performance receiving decent reviews. (L-R) Fernandez, Ameesha Patel, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor at the Race 2 press conference.

OneIndia Entertainment said, "Jacqueline being bold and sexy grabs a lot of eyeballs for the oomph factor. Her performance is decent." Taran Adarsh of BollywoodHungama said, "Stepping into Mallika's shoes in the sequel is Jacqueline. Like Mallika, she takes the boldness quotient to the next level with her sexy avatar. She should grab a lot of eyeballs for the oomph factor, while her performance is decent. In fact, she gets little scope to display histrionics, but she makes a sincere attempt to portray her character with care." Murder 2 launched Fernandez's career for the good, as she started getting offers from big production houses. Post Murder 2 success, Fernandez turned down many roles, such as Raaz 3, to avoid being type cast as a sex symbol. She was also considered for Bindu's 'Mona Darling' act in the remake of Zanjeer but she walked out from the project for the same reasons. She also turned down a role in Krrish 3, but that was due to date conflicts.

In 2012, Fernandez appeared in Housefull 2 with an ensemble cast which included Akshay Kumar, Asin and Rishi Kapoor. It became one of the top grossing productions of India that year and grossed INR 186 crore (US$31 million) worldwide. Also, Fernandez received positive reviews for her performance. Gaurav Malani of Times Of India stated, "So Jacqueline Fernandez wins the race with her gorgeous looks..." Mrigank Dhaniwala of KoiMoi said, "Of all the girls, Asin and Jacqueline Fernandez get the meatiest of roles and they do not disappoint." Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave a mixed review by saying, "Amongst the female leads, Asin has the meatiest role and gives a decent account of herself. Jacqueline, Shazahn and Zarine act more as eye candy. They are the typical sultry and enticing selves; each one is befitting in her own space."

Fernandez's first release of 2013 was Race 2 which was described by critics as the "cinematic equivalent of a trashy novel", however was a major box office success, with collections surpassing the INR 1 billion (US$17 million) mark. Her performance in the film met with generally positive reviews, with Lisa Tsering, of The Hollywood Reporter stating, "Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez, a leggy beauty with a talent for action who now counts seven Indian films under her belt, is another plus. Welcome to Bollywood, Miss Fernandez". Joginder Tuteja of Indicine noted, "Jacqueline has a bigger part to play and she does it well while looking her best." Fernandez also appeared in an item number titled "Jaadu Ki Jhappi" for Prabhu Deva's Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya.

In 2014, Fernandez appeared in Sajid Nadiadwala's directorial debut--the action thriller Kick, a remake of the 2009 Telugu film of the same name. Featuring opposite Salman Khan, Fernandez played Shaina, a psychiatric student. She dubbed in her own voice for the first time in Kick. On her performance, Sneha May Francis commented that she is "incredibly dazzling, and moves like [...] magic," though Raja Sen called her dialogue delivery "unfortunate." The film received mixed reviews from critics and emerged as a blockbuster.

Upcoming projects

As of July 2014, Fernandez is committed to four projects. Fernandez has completed shooting for Chandran Rutnam's crime-thriller According to Mathew, an English-language Sri Lankan film. Principal photography has begun for Vicky Singh's romantic thriller Roy, in which Fernandez will play dual roles alongside Arjun Rampal and Ranbir Kapoor. She will continue filming for the project in August. She will also feature in a cameo appearance for the satire Bangistan and has signed a 3-film deal with Nadiadwala's production house. As part of the contract, she will appear opposite Hrithik Roshan in Nadiawala's untitled next.

In the media

Fernandez walking the ramp at a fashion week, 2013.

In addition to acting in films, Fernandez has supported charitable organisations, and performed for stage shows. In the early 2013, on the behalf of people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia, she sent a letter to the consulate general of the Philippines in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to expedite the transfer of the elephant Mali from the inadequate Manila Zoo to a lush sanctuary. That year, she auctions a breakfast in Mayfair, London which she raises around £4000 for helping Pratham (her friend's) NGO involving for Children's primary education. She then went on to join hands with PETA in order to prevent cruelty to horses.

She had performed at the 55th Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards and Apsara Awards, as well as at the Temptations Reloaded in Auckland alongside, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Madhuri Dixit.

Fernandez made her first commercial alongside Hrithik Roshan for Sony Ericsson. Later, she became popular after appearing in a Pepsi commercial with Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. She has appeared in a commercial with the actor Aamir Khan for Titan Watches. Fernandez is also the brand ambassador of Nestlé's brand Maggi and Lux in Sri Lanka.

In early 2013, she became the ambassador for HTC One which she endorses in India. and, she was chosen as the face of Indian Bridal Fashion Week--IBFW of 2013. On 16 October, she launched Gareth Pugh's designed Forevermark Diamonds in Mumbai, as the spokesperson and inaugurated Forever 21 store in Mumbai. That year, she also launched Gilette revolutionary shaving system with Arbaaz Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur. Fernandez along with Huma Qureshi was also signed as brand ambassador of Mumbai Heroes, Sohail Khan's cricket team in the CCL (Celebrity Cricket League) that features matches between star based teams from all across India.

In 2011, a poll conducted by the newspaper, Times of India ranked her #7, among ''Top 50 Most Desirable Women''. Following, the next year, she ranked #8, in the second version of the poll. In the early 2013, Indian [edition] FHM magazine, ranked her at #21; of ''100 Sexiest Women In The World 2013.'' In the same year, a newspaper, ''World Actuality'', ranked her #23, among the ''most beautiful women in the world.''

She has been the cover model for many Indian editions of magazines, including Vogue (June 2010), FHM (January 2013), Maxim (June 2011), Cosmopolitan (March 2013 & April 2012), Grazia (February 2012), Elle (September 2012), Verve (March 2012), Harper's Bazaar (May 2012), Women's Health (May 2012), L'Officiel (December 2012) and Femina (July 2010) among others.

Galleries of Jacqueline Fernandez