Jacqueline Fernandez on her takeaway from the year and her slate in 2018--the Race franchise and ‘Girl on the Train’ adaptation
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 19, 2017)

There’s still a week for Christmas but Jacqueline Fernandez has already started decorating her tree, gifting stockings loaded with cookies and candies and making getaway plans for the New Year. “This is the first time I can remember in over three decades that my dad is taking off for the holidays and that makes it really special. We will be going to an island which I wouldn’t want to name right now and hope to pack in lots of swimming, sun-tanning, trekking and ‘we’ time,” reveals the 32-year-old actress, who is in a happy place as a frontrunner in commercial Hindi cinema with the superhit Judwaa 2 behind her and two much-hyped franchises, Race 3 and Kick 2, to follow.

“Sequels have always worked for me,” exults Jacky, pointing out that her first big success was Murder 2, followed by Race 2, Housefull 2 and Housefull 3, and more recently Judwaa 2. She is currently filming Race 3 which promises to be bigger and better than the two previous instalments with an action-packed role for her, along with new co-stars Bobby Deol, Saqib Saleem, Daisy Shah and of course, Salman Khan besides familiar face Anil Kapoor.

Salman’s name instantly brings a smile to her face and she admits that their equation goes back a long way and is deep-rooted. “He came like a guardian angel and picked me up from a career low, never made me feel indebted to him for Kick. On the contrary, he’s always made it seem like I did it on my own,” she says, brimming with gratitude for the Khan and revealing that recently when she shot her first scene of Race 3, she was all nerves. “I really look up to Salman which is why when I face the camera with him, I still get all fidgety, forget my lines and have that OMG! feeling,” she laughs.

From Race 3, the duo will move to Kick 2, but what’s happening with the other Salman-starrer, Dancing Dad, that had her playing a dance teacher to the actor who wants to take part in a competition for his daughter? “I have no idea, director Remo D’souza is currently focussed on Race 3 and I’m clueless about his next move,” she shrugs.

Meanwhile, at the Judwaa 2 success party, Varun Dhawan and Jackie hinted at the fact that they could be working towards a hat-trick, after Dishoom and the Judwaa reboot. What’s cooking? “Nothing as yet, but Varun is my partner in crime and I’m glad he was there holding my hand through Judwaa 2. It was an important film for both of us, what with the expectations the original and Daivd Sir’s (Dhawan) brand of comedy raised. Also, Varun was stepping into Salman’s shoes while I had to measure up to Karisma’s (Kapoor) performance. It was a huge challenge and I’m glad we pulled it off with our combined energy,” she smiles triumphantly. She also taught Varun pole-dancing, you point out, and the smile grows brighter, “I was so proud and happy to see Varun beat the stigma attached to this kind of dance. A lot of people would shy away, afraid of what people would say, but Varun, like me, always wants to learn something new.”

The chirpy actress is equally enthusiastic about her Judwaa 2 producer, Sajid Nadiadwala, admitting that it was he who noticed her before anyone else, giving her the special appearance in Housefull song, “Dhanno”, and then going on to cast her in Housefull 2 and his directorial debut, Kick. “The latter was a risk because I was not getting work at the time but both Nadiad and Salman showed a lot of confidence in me by going ahead with me in Kick. Nadiad then went on to give me Housefull 3, Dishoom and Judwaa 2. “My oldest equation is with him, his wife Warda is my soul sister and I’ve watched his kids grow in front of my eyes. I’m in the movies because of him and I’ll never forget that. I’ll always be there for Nadiad and Salman,” she says with complete conviction.