In a throwback interview, Sumita Chakraborty chats up the smouldering hot Jacqueline Fernandez to know more about her endeavours, bond with fellow actors and more…

Her foray into the digital world with Shirish Kunder’s Mrs Serial Killer has garnered many accolades. Her Netflix’s film Drive with the late Sushant Singh Rajput has got more than a million hits. And of course, she is also the sequel queen with her films Judwaa 2, Race 3 and Kick 2. On the personal front, this good Samaritan has adopted two villages Pathardi and Sakur in Maharashtra on her birthday. She will be looking after the food requirements of the villagers many of whom are malnourished. …So is Jacqueline Fernandez the next big thing in Bollywood? Let’s find out from the beautiful Jacqueline herself.

Jacqueline, first of all congratulations, you’ve become the sequel queen. How does it feel?

It is so funny that it actually feels like it’s my tryst with sequels. My success with sequels started with Murder 2. And post that, it is really amazing that I have been offered so many sequels. But they have been very lucky for me I think. Honestly, it is quite encouraging when you’re a part of a sequel – not only are they widely appreciated, you can be a part of the future sequels as well. As in the case with the Race franchise. So I am thrilled!

You’ve become so successful commercially with a runaway hit like Judwaa 2, what is the secret?

I don’t know the secret but perhaps it’s believing in what you’re doing. I think what also makes commercial cinema and commercial actors successful is the fact that we have a lot of belief and conviction in the cinema that we are doing, the roles that we are playing and the way we are portraying it. People have often made snide comments that my films are ‘commercial’ films and stuff like that. But I really love them. I believe in them and I think they are very entertaining.

You’ve become a hit song machine too…

Touchwood, I think I’ve been lucky! But everything that I do is different and unique. Even the songs that I have chosen, I do then with a lot of conviction, and it has worked! And I think I do it with a lot of discipline and passion too, I think that’s what works in the process.

Salman has said that if there is anybody who can fill the shoes of Zeenat Aman as a sex symbol, it is Jacqueline. What do you have to say about it?

That is perhaps one of the biggest surprises, and perhaps one of the biggest compliments from him because I think he is someone who has always believed in me. And I really owe him a lot. Because just having someone like him believing in you, boosts your confidence. I am privileged! It’s amazing to have someone like Salman Khan believing that you can be a sex symbol like Zeenatji. I think she is the most beautiful actor/ icon inside out. Salman also really admires her and respects her. First of all, it is a huge compliment for him to give me. But more than that, I think it is a nice gesture from him to give me that compliment for sure.