Jacqueline Fernandez believes the Hindi film industry is undergoing a refreshing transformation—especially in the way it portrays female actors. According to the actor, Bollywood has started to move away from the outdated stereotypes that once dictated which roles women could play, particularly as they aged.
Speaking at the Women in Cinema panel hosted by Deadline Hollywood and the Red Sea Film Foundation at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Jacqueline shared her thoughts on the evolving narrative. “In India and in Bollywood, there has been an amazing change,” she said. “It’s no longer about fitting a cookie-cutter stereotype of what it means to be an actress. It’s not about what age you are or how you look. That’s changed a lot.”
She pointed out that women of all ages are now landing strong, protagonist-led roles. “Stories are being made for them. So now, the variety has all of a sudden exploded. Everyone is getting an opportunity,” she said, while acknowledging that staying relevant with age is still a concern. “There are a lot of amazing actresses out there who are breaking that and working towards showing that age is no barrier.”
Jacqueline went on to express that these women are leading by example, inspiring others to pursue their passion without limitations. “This is your dream, and there is no limit to it,” she said. According to her, the beauty of cinema lies in its universality—“everyone has a story to tell, regardless of race, religion, gender or age.” She added that she’s happy to see actors now able to express these stories more freely than ever before.
On the professional front, Jacqueline is gearing up for Housefull 5, the latest film in the comedy franchise. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film features a massive ensemble including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Jackie Shroff, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, and more. The film is slated for release in June.