'Sri Lanka beginning to shine as glamour centre'

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

'Sri Lanka is an emerging industry especially in terms of fashion and glamour, said former Miss Sri Lanka cum Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez. "I think we have something very different and one which is not possessed by any Asian country. That is a finesse, maturity and understanding which is very international.

Having travelled and worked a lot in Asia I feel that these qualities will really get us places," she noted on her recent visit to the island to judge the Miss Sri Lanka for Miss Universe pageant held recently.

Fernandez said that a lot of people from Bollywood are enthusiastic about Sri Lanka after the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) unfurled in the Sri Lanka last year. Many have come back for holidays and are considering using the country as a film shooting location.

"Everywhere I go they tell me how much they love my country. They had the opportunity to visit the island and bask in its beautiful climate and locations because of IIFA. It was such a great opportunity for Sri Lanka to stage the event because India is our sister country and it is a boost for Sri Lankan tourism. I am glad the event brought the recognition that Sri Lanka needed at that time," she added.

Speaking to the Daily News Fernandez said that she will be visiting Sri Lanka often to engage in many projects. One is a model training school which will be launched at the end of the year.

"We have the potential but they need grooming and some moral support to make it to the international level. They need to know how to communicate with people and deal with certain situations. Obviously, with the conflict we suffered a setback.

Now that peace has dawned, we have so much to look forward to," she said. Her latest movie, Murder 2 is screening worldwide these days. She is shooting for House Full 2 alongside Akshey Kumar, John Abraham, Mithun Chakraborty, Asin Thottumkal and Ritesh Deshmukh. She will also star in Raaz 3 which is India's second 3D movie. This will be the first time a Hollywood studio would be co-producing an Indian 3D horror film.