Jacqueliene Fernandez hails Bollywood’s progress for women on-screen during panel discussion at Cannes 2025: “Everyone is getting an opportunity. There is no more a shelf life”

May 21, 2025 - 2:52 PM IST

At the prestigious 78th Cannes Film Festival, Jacqueline Fernandez proudly represented India during a panel discussion at the Red Sea Film Foundation titled Women in Cinema. The discussion highlighted the evolving roles and expanding opportunities for women in Bollywood, with Jacqueline sharing her insightful perspective on the transformative shift in the industry.

Jacqueliene Fernandez hails Bollywood’s progress for women on-screen during panel discussion at Cannes 2025: “Everyone is getting an opportunity. There is no more a shelf life”

Speaking candidly, Jacqueliene said, "In India and in Bollywood, there has been an amazing change where it's not anymore about fitting a cookie-cutter stereotype of what it means to be an actress and how you could fit in a role. And these are the roles that you can be given if you are a certain age or if you look a certain way. That's changed a lot in India."

She continued, "Women of all age groups are getting fantastic roles. They are getting fantastic female lead protagonist roles. There are stories being made for them. So now, the variety has all of a sudden exploded. Everyone is getting an opportunity. There is no more a shelf life. There is, of course, a lot of us who go through that; it is how do we stay relevant all the time as you get older? But there are a lot of people and a lot of amazing actresses out there who are breaking that and who are working towards that."

Jacqueliene expressed her pride in the trailblazing efforts of women in cinema, emphasizing the limitless nature of passion and dreams. Jacqueliene continues to shine on the global stage, representing Indian cinema with grace and confidence. Her appearances at Cannes have been hailed as iconic looks of the decade, stunning audiences and fashion critics alike with her impeccable style. Her advocacy for diverse, meaningful roles for women reflects the growing momentum towards inclusive storytelling in Bollywood. Jacqueliene’s global recognition underscores the impact Indian actors are making internationally, bridging cultures through cinema.

On the work front, Jacqueline is set to light up the screen with Housefull 5, the latest star-studded installment in the blockbuster franchise. She will also be seen in Welcome to the Jungle, promising more captivating performances ahead. Jacqueliene Fernandez’s presence at Cannes and her vocal support for women’s evolving roles in cinema mark her as a true ambassador of Indian talent and progress in global entertainment.

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