Destined to be an entertainer

ACTRESS Jacqueline Fernandez, who hails from Sri Lanka, says she always wanted to be an entertainer but didn’t plan getting into Bollywood.

The actress has penned her thoughts about her experience in a blog which went live on International Women’s Day.

“Since a very young age, I’ve always dreamt of being an entertainer, wanting to tell stories and make everyone around me laugh. For me it was never about the films but the pure joy that comes with being an entertainer. That dream, that joy, is something that had me drawn to it,” Jacqueline said.

“Entering Bollywood pretty much happened by chance. In Bollywood, it’s not just about entertaining, but also an artistic form of expression through dance, acting and dialogue that has the potential to stir thousands of emotions. “Your audience relates to you and lives the character through you.

“All the strength to live up to my dream of being an entertainer has come from constantly growing as a performer and to focus on my strengths.

“It might sound a little too good to be true as you read, but believe me, once you start living by it, you’ll feel the difference yourself,” she added.

Born to a Sri Lankan father and Malaysian mother, Jacqueline was raised in Bahrain. At the age of 14, she was hosting a fitness show. She moved to Australia to attend college and then returned to Sri Lanka where she took up a reporting job.

The year 2006 turned to be a game-changer, as she won the Miss Sri Lanka beauty crown. She made her debut in the Indian film industry with the 2009 film Aladin.