Sources say Jacqueline Fernandez turns down desi films to focus on international ones
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 31, 2019)

Until Quantico came her way in 2015 and served as the catalyst that expedited her journey to global success, Priyanka Chopra Jonas was only one among a lot of equally lionised female actors in Bollywood. With her journey proving how crucial a noteworthy Hollywood offering can be in propelling one to become a household name across the world, several Bollywood folk are on the lookout for their ticket to global fame. Most recently, we hear that Jacqueline Fernandez has turned down eight offers from desi filmmakers to explore her luck on international turf.

"After her recent Bollywood releases, Race 3 and Judwaa 2, Jacqueline became mindful of what she was investing her time in. She is looking for better stories, regardless of the language. She is focusing on international films, and has even let go of Bollywood offerings that could have seen her as the leading lady," says a source close to the actor, who had also invested a fair part of 2019 taking acting classes at Los Angeles's Ivana Chubbuck Studio, where the likes of Charlize Theron, James Franco, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler, have trained.

We're told that following the actor's 2015 British thriller, Definition Of Fear, she has been getting a fair share of offers from Hollywood, some of which are materialising. We suppose that's precisely why Fernandez has been spending more time in Los Angeles than in Mumbai.

The actress will spin an action franchise with Madhu Mantena under her newly-launched production company
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 20, 2019)

In a recent interview to Mirror (May 31), Jacqueline Fernandez who has been missing from the screen since the release of the third instalment of the Race franchise, spearheaded by Salman Khan last year, had revealed that she had been on a much-needed rejuvenating break in Los Angeles after a decade in the film industry. While in the City of Angels she had taken acting classes at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio and returned to Mumbai wanting to get a little more experimental in her choice of roles, without stepping away from mainstream Bollywood and its song-and-dance routine completely. This was proved true when it was revealed that she had shot a special appearance song in Prabhas’s upcoming action-packed thriller, Saaho, which opens on August 30.

In the same interview, the actress, who has always been one of the fittest in movie town, had admitted that despite her sunny temperament, no-holds barred action is her favourite genre and that she would like to do more of it. Now, Mirror has learnt that Jackie has been planning an action franchise under her newly formed production company. What’s more, she has found a collaborative partner in Madhu Mantena who will co-produce the series with her.

“The first film in the series is currently being scripted. The final draft will be locked soon, and it is expected to go on the floors by the year-end,” informs a source close to the development, adding that while the rest of the cast is still being finalised, Jackie will be fronting the project as the kick-’em-and-punch-’em leading lady.

The actress despite her sunny smiles and her even temperament, regularly goes for combat training insisting that it is a “great stressbuster” for her. Jackie also believes that being able to fight her way out of a sticky situation can make a woman feel physically strong and powerful. While in LA, she had also trained in weaponary. “I learnt how to handle guns and knives,” she shared. All that training will be put to good use on screen now. Get ready for Jackie O, the desi Bond girl!

Jacqueline Fernandez on taking acting classes in LA, getting out of comfort zone & learning to express emotions which are alien to her
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 31, 2019)

Her last film released almost a year ago and since then Jacqueline Fernandez has gone missing from the race. Turns out she was taking acting classes at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles. The lady has trained Hollywood A-listers like Charlize Theron, James Franco, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler, so it was the place to be for pretty Miss Sunshine.

“Even though I’ve been a part of the film industry for a decade now, I’ve never really studied acting and it wasn’t something I could learn here in a classroom. In LA, Ivana takes on individual students, you grow as a person and your craft evolves,” she informs, saying it was one of her life’s best experiences and something that will come in handy with future projects.

The actress says Ivana is keen to visit India and she would love to bring her to the country so aspiring actors and working professionals can explore different techniques with her. “You never know what works for you till you try it,” she points out knowledgeably.

Back in B-town, Jacqueline wants to take a step back and get a little more experimental with roles but is quick to clarify that this won’t take her away from her commercial Hindi cinema. “That’s me, I love to entertain people, make them laugh, sigh and dance,” she asserts. “But as an actress, I want to discover myself, do things a little differently, add to what I have done before. So, now, it’s all about balancing the two.” Following this train of thought, she has jumped onto the digital platform and is all set to play a serial killer. “The work I’ve done in the past were no-brainers really, I could pull off many of these roles without too much effort. But since the last couple of years, I’ve been looking for scripts that will take me out of my comfort zone, a film that will be on my shoulders,” she admits.

But a serial killer? That’s as far removed as is possible for a happy-go-lucky person who seems to be friends with the whole world. “But that’s the challenge!” she exclaims. “When I’m asked to show emotions like anger, jealousy, sorrow and hatred it gets really tough because there’s nothing to fall back on. That’s not to say that I will go looking to experience them, it’s something you feel intuitively when you play certain characters. That’s the beauty of acting.”

Prod her on what makes her angry and after a reflective pause she says, “I really don’t know, I’ve held it back for so long. I don’t explode or implode but it’s important to understand and portray certain emotions as it will make me more rounded as a performer.”

Meanwhile, her next release Drive has been delayed yet again. Disappointed? “No, I’m not because the special effects need to be done well and that takes time. Both Tarun (director Tarun Mansukhani) and Sushant (co-star Sushant Singh Rajput) have done a great job. Action is my favourite genre and in this case the action is slick and stylised. It will release in a couple of months and you will see,” she says confidently, adding that she regularly goes in for combat training. “It’s a great stressbuster and it makes a woman feel physically strong and powerful. I also learnt weaponery when in LA, how to handle knives and guns,” she makes the surprising revelation. Meanwhile, during Race 3, Salman Khan introduced her to art. How many paintings has she done since? “Just one artwork, I’ve been neglecting art,” she sighs, acknowledging she had an instructor on the set during Race 3, had got herself an easel, paper and paints, and painted a lot. “I will definitely get back to it, I still have my easel. It was wonderfully therapeutic,” she beams.

Another thing she’s been neglecting is her love life. “I have been focussed on work for so long and these things can’t be forced or planned,” she reasons, quick to add that she’s a die-hard romantic. “All actors are,” she concludes with a smile.