EXCLUSIVE! Jacqueline on ‘Judwaa 2’: Stepping into Karisma Kapoor’s shoes is an added pressure
| Sep 25, 2017, 16:55 IST
‘Judwaa 2’ is a coveted film for Jacqueline Fernandez, given the cult-comedy status the original enjoys. It's her second film this year and the actress admits she has not been as nervous in a few years now. "I’ve not been nervous about a film in a long, long time. It’s a big project, anticipated from its inception. Stepping into Karisma Kapoor’s shoes is an added pressure and then, I had to also do my best while working with David sir (Dhawan) who has worked with the most prolific actors and is the undoubted king of comedy. Kick was the last film I was nervous about. I hope Karisma likes what I have done with the part, although it’s a departure from what she did in Judwaa. Also, Varun and I had briefly worked together in Dishoom. I knew he has great comic timing right then. He communicates well with his co-actors which makes them look good, too. He’s one of my favourite co-stars. His enthusiasm and energy wakes you up," she says.
Come to think of it, in less than a decade, Jacqueline has worked with actors ranging from Varun to Salman Khan. Is it difficult to match sensibilities with the changing age brackets of co-actors? The actress says, "I started right on top with Mr Amitabh Bachchan in Aladin. I didn’t even understand the seriousness of what I was doing then. Watching him, I realised acting requires so much passion, which is above everything else. If you notice, there’s a similarity between those who’ve succeeded in this profession: they’re all deeply passionate about cinema. Mr Bachchan, Salman, Akshay...they love, breathe and consume only cinema. They’re as driven as some of my contemporaries like Tiger, Sidharth and Varun, although they’re 20 years ahead. It’s an achievement because maintaining the passion through the years is a task in an industry where it’s a struggle to stay positive amidst judgement, criticism, pressure for a film to work, and scrutiny on so many levels. There are days when I want to sympathise with people around me who’re going through a tough time. It’s a lot easier to just opt out of this space. Akshay had once told me, ‘I’ve had so many flops but I still work. It’s my love for cinema that brings goodwill and keeps me going.’ People say I’m a positive person but I’d like them to meet Akshay."
‘Judwaa 2’ hits the theatres on 29th September.
Come to think of it, in less than a decade, Jacqueline has worked with actors ranging from Varun to Salman Khan. Is it difficult to match sensibilities with the changing age brackets of co-actors? The actress says, "I started right on top with Mr Amitabh Bachchan in Aladin. I didn’t even understand the seriousness of what I was doing then. Watching him, I realised acting requires so much passion, which is above everything else. If you notice, there’s a similarity between those who’ve succeeded in this profession: they’re all deeply passionate about cinema. Mr Bachchan, Salman, Akshay...they love, breathe and consume only cinema. They’re as driven as some of my contemporaries like Tiger, Sidharth and Varun, although they’re 20 years ahead. It’s an achievement because maintaining the passion through the years is a task in an industry where it’s a struggle to stay positive amidst judgement, criticism, pressure for a film to work, and scrutiny on so many levels. There are days when I want to sympathise with people around me who’re going through a tough time. It’s a lot easier to just opt out of this space. Akshay had once told me, ‘I’ve had so many flops but I still work. It’s my love for cinema that brings goodwill and keeps me going.’ People say I’m a positive person but I’d like them to meet Akshay."
‘Judwaa 2’ hits the theatres on 29th September.