Singer Sonu Thukral has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police’s cybercrime unit over an allegedly AI-manipulated clip from his recently released song Jugni, featuring actor Jacqueline Fernandez.

The track, sung by Thukral and B Praak, was released on July 15. It soon courted controversy after a clip purportedly showing Fernandez suffering a “nip slip” during a dance sequence began circulating online. Several users questioned how the shot had made it to the final video. The makers subsequently blurred the disputed portion, even as versions of the clip continued to circulate on social media.

Thukral has now claimed that the clip being widely shared online was altered using artificial intelligence. Sharing a photograph of himself with a police officer and holding a copy of the complaint, he wrote, “I have filed a police complaint regarding my song Jugni. The clip has also been edited using AI, and the AI-generated version of the clip is being circulated further. I will talk about it publicly soon.”

The singer’s allegation has shifted the conversation from the content of the music video to the misuse of AI to create and circulate manipulated footage. Social media users have called for an investigation to identify those behind the alleged edit.

Until the time of going to press, Fernandez and the other people associated with the song had not issued an official statement.

Two back-to-back comedies in Housefull 5 (2025) and Welcome To The Jungle later, Jacqueline Fernandez is looking for a change of pace. An atmospheric horror film might just be the answer. mid-day has found out that the actor has signed a supernatural thriller, along the lines of Raj Khosla’s celebrated film Woh Kaun Thi? (1964)

Produced by Khyati Madaan, the yet-untitled movie is set in a small town of North India. A source from the team revealed, “Jacqueline plays a modern, working woman who gets caught up in supernatural events occurring around her. It’s not a creature feature or vampire film; the horror elements are subtly played like they were in Woh Kaun Thi? Think of it as an old-world dark film with Gothic elements. Here, the story is based on a real supernatural phenomenon. Jacqueline will also be seen doing some action.”

Two actors have been roped in alongside Fernandez. However, the makers are keeping the director and cast under wraps until they make an announcement in September. 

That’s when the makers intend to take the project on floors as well. A start-to-finish schedule has been planned, with the unit set to begin filming in a North Indian city, followed by Mumbai and an international location.

The source added, “British cinematographer Mark Nutkins — who was part of the second unit on Bridgerton, and has shot Rivals [2024] — will be the director of photography.”

Amid chatter that Wheel Of Fortune India has been renewed for a second season, host Akshay Kumar recently shot for the grand finale. For the superstar, the episode brought both — the hope of meeting the audience again for a new season, and a sense of nostalgia as he walked down memory lane with Farah Khan, Bhumi Pednekkar, and Jacqueline Fernandez.

A source told mid-day that the channel is keen to continue with the actor, given his high audience engagement. The source shared, “The decision to move ahead with the next season has been influenced by contestants, who love the laughter and nostalgia that Akshay evokes.”

The final episode is a perfect example of that. Apparently, Kumar shared a warm anecdote about Farah and her brother Sajid Khan’s childhood that left the audience in splits. He revealed that the siblings would often go to the theatre to watch movies, with their mother Menaka Irani preparing sandwiches for their outings.

Kumar shared, “Farah would beat her brother during the interval, and you’ll be shocked to hear why. [It’s because] he would eat up the onions, tomatoes, eggs, and potatoes in the sandwiches, leaving just the bread for her! Does anybody beat up their brother for this?”

The ripple effects of the West Asia conflict can be felt the world over, including in the Hindi film industry. On March 30, mid-day reported that the Dubai schedule of Shah Rukh Khan’s King had to scrapped (When war affects the King’s strategy, Mar 30). Now, the latest film to call off its Dubai shoot is the Akshay Kumar-starrer Welcome To The Jungle. Director Ahmed Khan was to take his ensemble comedy to the emirate for a song shoot, but is now reimagining it in Mumbai.

Postponing the track’s filming was out of the question as it includes the entire primary cast — Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, and many others — and getting their combination dates a second time over would have been difficult. So, the director did the next best thing. 

A source revealed, “Elaborate sets will be put up in Madh Island, Golden Tobacco Studio, and Film City in Goregaon. Created by production designer Sailesh Mahadik, the sets will depict night clubs, casinos, and private jets. Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah essentially imagined it as a glamorous song that shows how the rich live the good life. That’s why Dubai would have been the perfect location. The unit waited for a month for things to settle down there, but when they didn’t, they shifted the location.”

Khan will begin the song shoot on April 15. Confirming the location shift, the director told mid-day, “We will now shoot the song in Mumbai. It’s a glamorous song with the entire cast.”

Mumbai is hardly the place one associates with jungles. But trust director Ahmed Khan to turn parts of the city into dense forests for Welcome To The Jungle. mid-day has learnt that on December 5, the director began shooting the climax that will play out across five venues — Film City, Royal Palms, Borivali, and two locations in Aarey Colony. The production team, led by Shailesh Mahadik, has built sets depicting wilderness.

The original plan was to film the climax of the ensemble comedy — starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Paresh Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, and others — in the forests of Uttar Pradesh.

A source revealed, “But the biting cold was a deterrent. Plus, the production team realised it’d be logistically impractical to shoot in the forests with a 34-member cast and 500-strong unit. Given the kind of stunts involved, Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwala decided to relocate the shoot to Mumbai.”

After this leg is complete, the director will travel to North India to capture wide shots in the jungles. Khan told mid-day, “It’s wonderful that we’re shooting the climax now. Getting so many actors together was the only challenge, but once on sets, it’s a party.”

In March, mid-day reported that Ajay Devgn and director Raj Kumar Gupta, who had wrapped up Raid 2’s shoot in May 2024, decided to add two songs to the narrative (The end? Not quite, March 25). Sure enough, last week, singer-musician Yo Yo Honey Singh and actor Jacqueline Fernandez filmed a dance number for the crime thriller. Now, we have learnt that Tamannaah Bhatia leads the second song, a club number, along with Singh. The duo kicked off the shoot in a suburban studio in Mumbai over the weekend.

Bhatia has been on a high since her dance number, Aaj Ki Raat, from Stree 2 (2024) became wildly popular. Can we expect another chartbuster from her?

An insider reveals, “The team has designed an opulent set, inspired by the underground club scene—think shimmering lights, bold colour palettes, and strobe effect. It’s a glamorous track with Tamannaah sporting a sequinned ensemble and displaying her dancing prowess, while Honey Singh matches her with his signature swag.”

Devgn, who plays income tax officer Amay Patnaik in Raid 2, is not part of the shoot as he is filming Ranger in Tamil Nadu. The source, however, adds, “Ajay sir was keen to add a catchy track that could be a crowd-puller.”

The song shoot is likely to be wrapped up by next week, as the film—also starring Riteish Deshmukh—readies for its May 1 release.

Choreographer turned director Ahmed Khan entered the film industry as a child actor in 1986 with Mr India. The next year will mark his four decades in cinema, a time that saw his evolution from actor to directing action movies (Baaghi 2, Baaghi 3, Heropanti 2) and now comedy with Welcome To The Jungle (WTTJ), the franchise’s third instalment. In a candid chat with BT, Ahmed revealed why commercial cinema is here to stay, Welcome sequel’s casting changes and why he has no intention of sticking to making sequels only.

Sanjay Dutt’s last-minute exit from WTTJ sparked curiosity. The director revealed, “When I started the film, everyone had this fear, kaisay hoga. Casting changes happen in all films whether big or small. It can happen just 15 days prior to shooting. Sanjay Dutt had a good role but dates sabke manage karnay mein issue ho gaya tha. We are like a close-knit family, so we understood each other. He just shot for a day before exiting the project. I can’t tell you if he was replaced or we created a new character because it will trigger this whole talk about isko liya tha pehle, usko liya tha pehle. Aap dekhogay toh aapko yeh pata nahi chalega that who was cast as whom before.”

It was speculated the film was delayed due to its casting and financial hiccups. “I would not like to comment much but we started the film in March last year 2024. Itni badi film will need a year so there’s no delay as such. Half the industry was working with me. The film has Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta and Shreyas Talpade. I cancelled other actors' dates for Shreyas, when he faced an untimely health scare. We waited and shot with him. Every actor stood by Shreyas and said they will change their dates for him. He is a strong guy.”

Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor as Uday and Majnu were iconic characters of Welcome and their omission too felt strange. Ahmed clarified, “I tried to change the vibe of the third instalment. We wanted a totally new look because the audience has changed, humour has changed. They may be back in welcome 4 but it wasn’t necessary for us to recreate the same casting now.”

The filmmaker feels that while commercial films are looked upon as run-of-the-mill, it’s a challenge to make them.

He explains, "Commercial films are toughest to make because everything needs to look good. Be it the hero, heroine, costumes, songs, high octane action or location. The reach is more so the backlash is more as well. You must do it unapologetically. You have to meet expectations of people who want it to be larger than life and yet believable. Bimari pay ek film banalo. Serious hai, background music kam hai, action nahi hai, gaane nahi hai, hospital hai, ghar hai, bimari hai, pareshani hai, dawai hai. People don’t care if it’s not looking good visually. Content driven film may have 50 people on set, we have 500. A lot of effort goes into managing that sort of crew. Commercial Hindi films will never go out of style. Women want a man to give them flowers, be gentle, shower attention, lock eyes with. SRK gives you that."

Looking back at his four decades in cinema, he says, “I started off as a child actor in 1986. I was a choreographer for 25 years of my life! Imagine jumping from choreography to directing action movies and action to directing comedy. I have seen the evolution of cinema. Today’s actors are so well trained. Pehle dhundna padta tha actors ki body hai ki nahi, dance aata kay ahi, now look at today’s boys. They can be compared to international actors and models. The competition is now Timothee Chalamet when it comes to talent and Chris Hemsworth when it comes to physique. Alia Bhatt worked with Gal Gadot and they don’t even make noise about it. 90’s mein main bhi battameez tha. I used to feel it’s okay to be arrogant if you are in the film industry. Today, the youngsters address makeup dada as sir, Tiger Shroff addresses a spot boy as sir.”

The director we hear will launch his son Azaan as an actor soon. Ahmed revealed, “He is a charming 23-year-old. He wants me to launch him like Rakesh ji did for Hrithik. I am very objective that way. I will never say, mera beta superstar banega and he will never say my daddy is the strongest. He knows I am not tall, and I tell him he’s not light-eyed like Hrithik. We are very honest that way, we roast each other. My son knows I am quite critical. He knows he will only succeed if he has it in him.”

​Jacqueliene Fernandez loves experimenting with genres and mediums. So, it seemed natural when she moved to the OTT space with Mrs Serial Killer in 2020 when OTT was still finding a footing. However, she says it didn’t go down well with industry insiders who believed it wasn’t the right move to work in OTT.

“I was asked, ‘Why are you doing OTT? The move can backfire. Think again, weigh your options’. But I stood my ground, and now I can say that following your heart works,” says Jacqueliene. In a chat with us, the Kick actress opens up about her work, fitness routine, sartorial choices and more.

Jacqueliene feels there’s a right time for everything. She says, “They say timing matters, and it felt true in my case because I entered the OTT domain when things were at a nascent stage. It was a new territory for me too, and I was criticised for making such bold choices. Many told me that what I was doing might not work and I needed to rethink my decision. But I followed what I felt was right for me. It’s a great platform and the kind of storylines and subjects that OTT has churned out is awesome. I don’t like to get typecast. People associate actors with a particular industry, or regional cinema or TV. For me, it’s not about any banner or medium. It’s about showcasing your skills. When you get an opportunity to entertain, just grab it.” 

Jacqueliene has a web show lined up where she plays a mentor. Citing the example of how diversity in south films has given birth to pan-India cinema, Jacqueliene says, “Diversity in subjects in South cinema led to its phenomenal growth. Now people queue up to watch South films made in Hindi, which were earlier released after being dubbed in Hindi.”

She adds, “It’s important for the industry and actors that better content comes out. I strongly feel that moving ahead of the curve is key, and I balance my moves basis that. I have a strong appetite for regional projects, and it’s amazing to see the work happening there.”

Joy, laughter and chaos make up the on-screen world of Housefull. Imagine all that packed into a song, and what you get is the upcoming schedule of Housefull 5. Word is that director Tarun Mansukhani has planned a grand number that sees the entire cast — including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Nargis Fakhri — shake a leg together. The song will apparently be shot over three nights at Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri.   

    

An insider reveals, “The track has been envisioned as a celebration of the franchise’s journey over the past 14 years. It will be larger-than-life, with expansive sets, elaborate costumes, and choreography that highlights the playful chemistry between the cast. It will be a night shoot going on from November 21 to 23.” 

Over 100 background dancers have been roped in for the number, which is being choreographed by Remo D’Souza. The cast will begin their rehearsals today.

Another source from the production says, “Tarun wanted the vibe to be classic Housefull—quirky and over-the-top, with moments in the song that will leave the audience in splits.”

Late last month, the entire cast had filmed another lavish dance number (End the party with a song, Oct 29).

Days after mid-day had reported that Salman Khan was set to pursue his film commitments despite repeated threats to his life (Bhaijaan Won’t Be Bogged Down, October 17) comes news that the actor has taken on yet another project. Two years after he set off to Dubai for a tour with the top female stars of Bollywood, Khan is set to return to the country as part of a Middle Eastern tour. His first global performance on the international stage in the aftermath of fresh threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi will commence with an act on December 7. Actors, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonakshi Sinha, Aastha Gill, Prabhudheva, Disha Patani, Maniesh Paul, and Sunil Grover, among others, will be part of this edition of Da-bangg: The Tour Reloaded.

Asserting that Khan wasn’t apprehensive about giving his nod to the international trip, his manager Jordy Patel—who also serves as the show’s organizer, along with Sohail Khan and Adil Jagmagia—says, “Security is arranged well by the Dubai police, and [in] crowded [areas] too. The cops take care of that. We will travel with our own security. Personnel will be appointed for each artiste, including Salman. He has been keeping up with all his professional commitments, and when we approached him for the show, he immediately agreed to be part of it. For Salman, the show must always go on. He has to keep shooting because he is committed to his work.”

In keeping with his past performances on the tour, Khan’s four-hour set is expected to have a blend of music, comic acts, and dance performances. The first act will be held at the Dubai Harbour Experience, which has a capacity of 25,000 viewers, with another show scheduled at Jeddah, where Khan is expected to perform to a 70,000-strong crowd.

“This edition will mark the third show of Da-Bangg in Dubai, and will be held at a beautiful outdoor venue overlooking the Dubai skyline. Only premiere international shows happen here, and an Indian concert like ours will take place here for the first time. While the Middle Eastern tour kicks off in Dubai, we will also announce shows in Qatar, Bahrain, and Doha, when we have the dates of the other artistes. We are trying to cover all the cities in the Middle East,” he says, adding that with 40 shows behind them, the team attempts to match international acts while delivering every new performance. 

“Apart from paying attention to the visuals, sounds, and graphics, we keep changing the line-up of artistes so that Salman [performs] with someone new every time. We plan to add more shows in London and the USA in May and June next year,” he says, adding that tickets for the shows are already on sale.

Considering the multiple projects he has in his kitty, Khan, however, will need to deftly fill his date diary. The preferred days by the international organizers, says Patel, are Fridays, when the actor is required in Mumbai to shoot for the ongoing reality TV show, Bigg Boss.

“On December 7, he will not shoot for the reality show. But, on other days, he will go back and forth, and be part of the tour as well as Bigg Boss.”

Shooting aboard a luxury liner sounds like one big party, and that’s exactly what it has been for the Housefull 5 team. Director Tarun Mansukhani kicked off the shoot of the multi-starrer—that features Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri and Chitrangda Singh, among others—on September 16 on a cruise liner in Newcastle, England. After a fortnight of filming on the sea, it is now learnt that the team has made a pit-stop in the town of Sidmouth. For the next two weeks, a chunk of the comedy will be canned at Sidmouth, Exeter, London and other cities in the UK.

The latest instalment in the Housefull franchise is being envisioned as the biggest so far, with Mansukhani even roping in actors from the previous editions for key roles (Everyone’s invited to this house party, June 19).

A source reveals, “This time around, most of the narrative unfolds on a cruise. The ship set sail from Newcastle, going to Spain, then Normandy and Honfleur in France, before turning back to Plymouth in England. From October 2, the unit began shooting in the picturesque town of Sidmouth, which is a couple of hours away from London. The plan is to wrap up the UK leg by October 16.” Last week, Kumar also organized a surprise party on the ship to celebrate co-actor Chunky Panday’s birthday.

As soon as the cast returns to India mid-October, they will begin the Mumbai leg. Sanjay Dutt, Nana Patekar and Jackie Shroff will join the unit in this schedule. From what we’ve heard, the three actors play grey characters.

“Producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Tarun were keen to cast Sanjay in Housefull 5, given his knack for comedy. When the actor’s application for the UK visa got rejected, hindering his Son of Sardaar 2 shoot, Sajid chose a wiser route by ensuring that all of the actor’s Housefull 5 portions would be set in Mumbai. Huge sets representing the interiors of the luxury ship will be erected in a Mumbai studio, where the climax will be shot with the entire cast.”

If things go as planned, the principal photography will be wrapped up by November.

As the world observed World Vegetarian Day yesterday, actress Jacqueliene Fernandez shares her tale of embracing the meatless lifestyle. Her turning vegetarian was more than a passing fancy; it was a thoughtful reckoning with the intersection of body, mind, and planet. “My journey into vegetarianism was deeply personal,” she boasts, adding, "As public figures, we have the platform to inspire and educate people.

When someone in the public eye talks about a lifestyle shift like vegetarianism, it opens a conversation. We can show that living more sustainably and compassionately doesn’t mean sacrificing fitness or well-being."

In conversation, she talks about the contours of her journey to vegetarianism.

Jacqueliene’s journey into vegetarianism began with a quest for mental clarity and connection with nature. She was influenced by the teachings of an Indian American Yogi and Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. "I visited his ashram in Madh Island during a challenging time—my mother had suffered a stroke, and I wasn’t able to be with her in Bahrain. That period of reflection made me realize how much I wanted to prioritize mental clarity and connection with nature. On January 1, 2022, I decided I wouldn’t touch meat again. It was a shift I made for my peace and well-being,” she recalls.

The Housefull 2 actress admits ‘adopting a meatless lifestyle has been a transformative experience’ for her. “It’s not just about the physical changes, though those are important; it’s about mental clarity and peace. After I decided to stop eating meat, I found that I felt much more balanced and in tune with myself. It gave me a sense of peace, and I felt lighter both mentally and emotionally. It’s helped me shift from focusing on outward appearances to how I feel inside,” she elaborates.

It is often said that one cannot have six-pack abs or muscles without having meat as the main source of protein in their diet. Being one of the fittest stars in the industry, the Murder 2 actress dispels the myth. 

“There’s a misconception that you need meat to achieve a strong, fit body, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. After transitioning to a meatless diet, my focus shifted from aesthetics to balance. It’s no longer about whether something will make me look better but whether it’s nourishing. I still get plenty of plant-based protein from sources like legumes, tofu, quinoa, and good-quality protein powder supplements. My energy levels are great,” she shares.

She doesn't endorse turning vegetarian overnight. She explains, "Just listen to your body and make choices that are right for you. You don’t have to become vegetarian overnight but start by incorporating more whole-food and nutrient-rich food that are derived from plants into your life. It’s not just about health, but also about contributing to a kinder, more sustainable world. Every small step counts."

Growing up in Sri Lanka, curry was a big part of my childhood. My signature dish is my meatless mushroom curry —it’s packed with flavor, and everyone loves it. And I have a YouTube recipe coming up soon.

I’d invite Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Anushka Sharma. Anushka is also an animal advocate who adopts a meatless lifestyle so we will have a lot of recipe notes to share, Akshay is passionate about fitness and I’d love to hear more of what’s on his plate, and John whose is a vegetarian, and advocates for animal welfare.

I love healthy snacks so when I’m travelling I always head to the local organic store and look for all the plant based healthy snacks, I recently found Makhana in a store in London which was a lovely surprise.

Dance numbers are a rare feature in the OTT world that thrives on taut storytelling. Recently, however, filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali changed the language of web shows as he showcased larger-than-life songs in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Now, Jacqueline Fernandez will bring a vibrant track to the screen with her maiden web series, GOAT. Sources tell us that the actor recently filmed it with 200 background dancers, making it arguably the biggest dance number in Indian digital entertainment.

The thriller, helmed by Abhishek Sharma, is led by Neil Nitin Mukesh and Siddharth Nigam. A source reveals, “Jacqueliene’s song was shot over Wednesday and Thursday at Shiloh Bar in Andheri. She trained with choreographer Ruel Varindani for two weeks before facing the camera. For the number, Ruel has blended different dance genres, including contemporary and hip-hop. The location, where a grand set-up was built, was cordoned off from the public to ensure a smooth shoot.”

It’s not common for OTT shows to include dance numbers, but we hear it is of significance in the Jio Cinema series. The source adds, “It serves as a turning point in the story, bringing the central characters’ journeys at an interesting juncture.”

Having done OTT films such as Drive (2019) and Mrs Serial Killer (2020), actor Jacqueliene Fernandez is set to mark her web series debut with the show G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time). We have exclusively learnt that the show, which also marks the OTT debut of actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, will have a musical setting, with Jacqueliene and Neil pitted against each other.

A source says, “Jacqueliene plays a dance mentor, while Neil plays a music mentor to the kids. The show will revolve around their rivalry. It is a musical and will feature an ensemble cast, including actors Siddharth Nigam and Sumedh Mudgalkar.”

The project is currently being shot in Mumbai. It holds a lot of importance for Neil, who hails from a musical background, with his dad Nitin Mukesh and late grandfather, Mukesh, being veteran musicians. The source says, “While Jacqueliene is an amazing dancer, Neil comes from a musical legacy. He plays the piano and this is the first time he is getting to honour his musical heritage on screen. He is quite excited.”

The more, the merrier has been a long-standing mantra in the world of Housefull. Now, it looks like Housefull 5 will be a crowded affair. While Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh lead the comedy, sources tell us that producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Tarun Mansukhani are planning to rope in cast members from the past instalments. Apparently, the idea is to bring all the franchise players together, thus enhancing the Housefull universe.

A source reveals, “Talks are on with Arjun Rampal, John Abraham and Bobby Deol, who starred in the first, second and fourth edition respectively. The makers are envisioning it as a clash of the protagonists and antagonists. Discussions are underway with Chunky Panday, who will have a double role. From its many leading ladies over the years, Lara Dutta, Nargis Fakhri and Jacqueline Fernandez may join the latest offering. While some actors will have cameos, others will be seen in crucial roles.”

The upcoming laugh riot is set aboard a luxury cruise liner. The film will roll in London in August, after which the cast and crew will move to a cruise liner for a 45-day schedule.

The source adds, “The cruise begins in Newcastle in England, then heads to Scotland, Ireland, France and Spain. Tarun wants to ensure everything is planned in advance, leaving no room for delays as a huge star cast will be onboard.”

The director wants to wrap up the shoot by October.

It’s an extraordinary experience being on the magical red carpet at Cannes,” says Jacqueliene Fernandez, who was spotted in a glittering gold outfit at the premiere of the Hollywood film The Substance.

In the past, actresses like Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Stewart, and Julia Roberts, among others, broke convention and skipped wearing heels on the red carpet.

Ask her if there’s anything that she feels about the red-carpet culture, and she says, “I always believe in comfort over fashion. If it makes me feel comfortable, I will go with it. Similarly, if there is something that makes me even a tad bit uncomfortable, I will avoid it. Funnily, I am very comfortable in heels! I dance in them.”

She adds, “For me, the red carpet is almost a culture; it epitomises prestige, glamour and talent.”

Speaking about her red-carpet inspirations, the Kick actress says, “It has to be Zendaya. She’s pretty much everybody’s favourite, but what I like about her is that she is so confident in her own skin. She’s self-aware and can carry off anything.”

Among Indian celebs, Jacqueliene is fond of Sonam Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor. She says, “I feel Sonam never goes wrong on the carpet and Janhvi pulls off these looks very well, too.”

Welcome To The Jungle is a classic case of the more, the merrier. Ahmed Khan’s directorial venture has a star-studded ensemble cast comprising Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, Paresh Rawal and more. While the unit has shot three schedules that have included only a few combination scenes of actors, the next few days will see the entire cast come together for a grand dance number.

Bringing together 10-plus actors is a delight on screen, but off screen it entails a major logistical set-up. Sources say the director has envisioned the song on a big scale, complete with 200 background dancers. 

“While the background dancers began their rehearsals last week, the actors have been separately practicing their steps with the choreographer and his team for the past few days. The idea is to be fully prepped before they face the camera on Saturday at Royal Palms in Goregaon. The director will have a 500-member crew working on the song over seven days, during which actors will shoot their individual and joint sequences.”

If things go as planned, Khan will wrap up the comic caper’s Mumbai leg by May-end.

When a photo of actor Jacqueliene Fernandez along with singer-actor Selena Gomez was shared last year in September, it left people wondering, ‘How did they meet?’ Their individual fan bases were also hopeful that the two of them might have a surprise in store. Now, we’ve exclusively learnt that Fernandez and Gomez will feature together in a music video.

An industry source tells us, “Jacqueliene and Selena are both big stars in their respective industries and them coming together will be a huge collaboration. They are teaming up for a single, and both of them will feature in the song’s video. Jacqueliene will also co-produce it.”

The source adds that the video will be shot overseas. Recently, Fernandez collaborated with French singer Tayc for the song Yimmy Yimmy. She was last seen in the Ranveer Singh-starrer Cirkus (2022) and will next be seen in Welcome to the Jungle.