Amy Jackson, Miss Teen World 2008 and the runner-up to Miss UK 2010, is the latest in a line of beauty queens who have succeeded in Bollywood. After her debut role in the 2010 romantic drama Madrasapattinam, the actress moved to Mumbai. Her decision has paid dividends - she recently landed the lead role in the forthcoming film Ekk Deewana Tha (There was a Crazy Guy).
Starring opposite Prateik Babbar, Jackson says of her role: "I play Jessie who comes from a very reserved family, where things like boyfriends, staying out late and partying are totally out of the question. Jessie gets her world turned upside down when she meets Sachin, played by Prateik, and it's basically a really sweet story that everyone can relate to."
The 20-year-old says she still can't believe her luck. "You know, it still seems a bit of whirlwind. I won Miss Teen World and then a movie rep saw me on the pageant website and thought that I had the perfect image for the role in Madrasapattinam. So he flew over to England to meet me, and within a week I was filming in Chennai."
Before Bollywood came calling, Jackson admits she had not seen a single Indian film. Now she's learning Hindi and taking dance classes. She says being English has not been a hindrance in her attempt to feel like she's part of the Mumbai film industry.
Of course, such a life-changing move doesn't come without its downside. "The hardest thing for me was leaving my friends and family behind. Because I just turned 21 on January 31 and I just want to do what normal 21-year-olds do," she says. "My friends have started going to university and I've jetted off and started this new life. I have to stand on my own two feet now. I really miss my mum's cooking, simple stuff at home, watching TheX Factor."
She says she's still getting used to the attention focused on her by the Bollywood gossip columns. "It's hard to get used to that," she says. "I'm scared to look in the papers in the morning."
Jackson's modelling career has also changed. She's no longer doing the catwalks and instead is in the more lucrative sphere of endorsing brands.
The actress-model imagines she won't be returning to the UK any time soon. "I'd really like to make my mark in India. I'd like to continue here for many years to come," she says.
She's already signed up for several film projects. "I start my next movie in March and have two others after that."
The first is the Telugu film Yevadu, directed by Vamsi Paidipally, while another is a romance to be shot entirely in San Francisco, proving that not even filming in three different languages - Teluga, Hindi and English - can faze India's latest leading lady.
artslife@thenational.ae
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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WTL%20SCHEDULE
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Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
SPECS
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
