The cover star for December 2024 reflects on the lessons she’s learned in life, the ups and downs of her career, her passion for fitness, and her outlook for the year ahead
Jacqueliene Fernandez brings her unapologetic charm and fearless spirit to the December 2024 cover of Femina India. From her memorable debut in Aladin to delivering standout performances in films such as Kick, Roy, and the iconic Housefull franchise, among others, she has undeniably carved a niche for herself in Bollywood. Jacqueliene has also captured the hearts of audiences with her graceful and electrifying dance moves in a string of hit music videos – sharing the screen space with hip-hop icons such as Badshah in Paani Paani and Genda Phool and starring alongside international artists Tayc in Yimmy Yimmy and Michele Morrone in Mud Mud Ke, to name a few.
In an exclusive conversation, Jacqueliene delves deep into her journey of personal growth – candidly reflecting on the lessons she’s learned and those she had to unlearn along the way. The actor shares bits about her evolving relationship with “being authentic”, both online and offline, and talks about the sheer joy she’s discovered in a new creative passion: music. Her debut single, Stormrider, created in collaboration with LA-based record label Myst Music, has already amassed over 8.4 million views on YouTube, marking yet another milestone for her.
Touching upon the growing pressures of social media and societal expectations, she emphasises, “If every individual in society tried their best not to be so judgmental online and offline, it would encourage more authenticity from everybody, whether it’s a celebrity or a regular person.” It is not just social media pressure, there is also the pressure of external appearances. “Flawlessness is a myth, and our audiences are now intelligent enough to not always expect it from us,” she adds.
Jacqueliene’s happy place lies in fitness. “It is therapy. I’ve always come out of a session of yoga, the gym, or dance just feeling so much better and so much more accomplished.”
