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A LIFE LESS ORDINARY

Teen model turned global superstar, Amy Jackson is living a dream, far beyond anyone’s imagination. At the age of 16 she left her hometown of Liverpool for the unknown lands of Southern India, where overnight, she became a Tamil actress, mastering the language and dance moves required for a career on the big screen. But the Liverpudlian lass didn’t stop there. As her acting credentials developed, Bollywood came calling and today, she is one of the most successful actresses in India, juggling three movie industries, (Hindi, Tamil and Telugu), starring alongside the biggest names in the business. In a special interview for Asiana Wedding Magazine, the British beauty opens up about life as the unexpected A’lister…

Hair & Make-Up: Meeta Patel Shah

Outfits: Gursharon Bird DesignsJewellery: Master of Jewels

Photography: James RudlandVideography: Shevy Sandhu

Interview: Momtaz Begum-HossainLocation: The Savoy Hotel,

London

Watch what happened

behind-the-scenesin our exclusive

video on www.asiana.tv

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One thing is guaranteed when you’re in the presence of Amy Jackson: you’re going to have a ‘lorra lorra laughs’. Hailing from the same hometown as

the city’s other famous heroine, Cilla Black, Amy embodies the warm and bubbly nature of the much-loved British Scouse television star, but when it comes to the fame stakes, Amy’s legion of followers are more akin to the hysteria experienced by The Beatles. With nearly 3 million followers on Instagram, Amy is one of the most successful British actresses in history and there’s no curbing her enthusiasm. When she’s not filming in India, Amy loves nothing more than taking a break in London, and although she has travelled to some of the most exquisite venues in the world during filmmaking, the staggering views over the capital’s finest landmarks from The Savoy Suite at The Savoy Hotel, take her breath away. ‘It’s amazing’ she squeals as she enters the room. She’s two hours late for her Asiana makeover, but all is forgiven: after all, she’s a fully-fledged Indian actress, so we can allow for the Indian timing!

Amy is in town shooting British film Boogie Man, but she has no plans to abandon her career in India just yet. She explains: ‘I’m playing an Indian related character and that’s where the connect is, otherwise I wouldn’t do it. Truthfully I feel I am more Indian than English, and I am much more comfortable in India than I am in London, which is crazy!’

Amy’s whirlwind story of stardom begun when she was just 16. Spotted by South Indian Film Producers after appearing on the Miss Teen World website, she was invited to India to play a part in a Tamil film, an offer that would have left many girls bemused, but for Amy, she’d never been more excited in her life. She enthuses: ‘I wanted to travel and India was top of my list. I was so fascinated by it and really wanted to go as a student, during my gap year but it happened when I was 17 and I went with my mum instead of my friends. We landed, it was amazing…and I didn’t go back.’

Despite the language barrier and lack of experience, Amy took to her new life with ease, which she puts down to the people she met. ‘The people were the reason I didn’t go back. My team was amazing, the whole film set is a family and I made friendships that have lasted, which is why I’ve lasted so long.’

It’s easy to see why Amy connects with people so easily. Naturally positive and

Hair & Make-Up: Meeta Patel Shah Outfits: Gursharon Bird Designs

Jewellery: Master of Jewels(see stockists p434)

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and Chitti from the original 2010 film. It’s a role that Amy is still surprised about landing. She explains: ‘Kareena was supposed to play the role but then it didn’t happen. I had already worked with Shankar on I. He never repeats his heroines, but I changed that and I’m so happy about it. Shankar is bigger than life. Making I set me where I am today. It took three years of my life but it was so worth it. 2.0 has also been a long process, we started it in 2015 and I still have another song to film, then it’s released in October.’

Starring opposite Rajini has been a career highlight for Amy who has worked with the biggest names in Tamil and Bollywood cinema. She reveals: ‘I’ve been filming with Rajini every day and he’s brilliant, an absolute gentleman. He spends a minimum of two hours after every shoot, taking pictures with everyone – he’s so beautiful. In fact they are all like that, Akshay and Salman too.’

The praises don’t stop there. Amy was thrilled to be re-united with Akshay Kumar on the sets of 2.0, after filming Sing is Bling with him. She gushes: ‘Akshay is the best co-star ever. Even though we’d start at 5am, he’s so much fun you don’t even realise you are starting so early. His motto is to just have faith in yourself, enjoy what you’re doing and everything will come together.’

Amy is certainly achieving that. For her, ‘Brand Amy’ is all about doing what she loves: being in the movies, and she has no intention of changing that: ‘I love being happy and I want people to feel that when they come to the cinema – that they leave feeling happy. I know that I wouldn’t like stopping because this is my life. I never wanted it, but I love it. It’s very consuming and very tiring and sometimes I think I don’t want this any more, then two hours later I think what else would you do? I’ve been an Indian actress for seven years, yes it’s full on, but it’s me.’

She certainly never lets any hurdles get in the way. Amy takes daily language classes in Hindi and has mastered Tamil, which she speaks with ease on camera. And with 47 languages spoken in India, Amy is keen to learn others. She explains: ‘I’ve done one Telugu film but it was harder because I’ve not spent much time in Hyderabad. I learnt Tamil because I hear it all around me and Hindi is very conversational like Spanish, but I only spent 12 days filming in Hyderabad so picking up the language was harder. I tried for a Malayalam film. It’s the most beautiful language when you speak it properly, it’s so pure like Sanskrit but it’s very difficult and I didn’t get it in the end.’

When it comes to her roles, Amy throws herself into them and has even conquered her fear of dancing. On screen she’s been married six times, but in real life, love and romance is the aspect she’s yet to master. Though when the time comes, she knows exactly what she’ll be wearing down the aisle. ‘Sabyasachi! Even if I have an English church wedding I’ll wear Sabyasachi. I love everything about his outfits, the details and embroideries, they

make you feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. But having filmed six Indian weddings I know I want something different. I love the sun and I love the outdoors. I’d like to get married on an island, just me, him and the vicar and then we’d swim back to shore for a big party.’ All she needs to do now is find her dream man: ‘I thought I knew what I wanted, but my list changes every day. Most of all though it has to be someone who is loyal, honest and makes me happy.’

And until then, Amy is satisfied with her filmstar life. She admits: ‘Every day I remind myself that I am living a dream. I go to India. I do my thing. I come back to the UK and I think what just happened? I am so lucky and so happy. India is my home and it’s such an amazing place. Every region is like a different country and I’ve been so blessed to see so much of it. The next 12 months are really exciting times, I’ve got two British film releases and 2.0, the big Diwali release for 2017…my life is far from ordinary and I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

inquisitive, on the sets of our photoshoot, Amy isn’t just the centre of attention when she’s having her snaps taken, she is a ball of happy radiation that everyone magnetises to; the kind of fun, fearless bestie we all want.

Privileged, yet down-to-earth, Amy declares she’s not a diva and has no interests in the diva behaviour of others, but she does have a deep respect for the film fraternity, especially when it comes to women. ‘The girls in Bollywood are fierce and are so on it. They know what they want – Priyanka and Deepika are smashing it. In fact Priyanka is the best go getter I have ever come across, she has so much drive, she’s like a man and woman put together.’ Amy also talks enthusiastically about her role models, including our cover star Kareena. ‘The first film I ever watched starred Kareena Kapoor and ever since then, she’s been my girl. I love her a lot, she’s the actress I look up to. And of course Aishwarya. She’s an icon for India, she’s on another level. I met her once, she didn’t know who I was but now I’m doing the sequel to Robot, 2.0, I’m following in her footsteps.’

Sci-fi movie 2.0 is scheduled for a Diwali 2017 release and is the most expensive Indian film made to date with a budget of $59million. Written and Director by Shankar, the film stars Amy as the lead female, opposite megastar Rajinikanth, who reprises his role as Dr. Vaseegaran

Hair & Make-Up: Meeta Patel Shah Outfits: Gursharon Bird DesignsJewellery: Master of Jewels(see stockists p434)

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XXXXXXXXXXXHair & Make-Up: Meeta Patel Shah Outfits: Gursharon Bird DesignsJewellery: Master of Jewels(see stockists p434) THE DREAM TEAM

The style squad who transformed Amy Jackson for our Asiana makeover

‘Asian jewellery isn’t just about bridal pieces and that’s what I wanted to show when I created these pieces for Amy. I designed statement necklaces which have exquisite Indian workmanship in them, made using the finest materials. Though they can be worn by a bride, when styled in a more contemporary way, they become every day statement pieces that suit Indian, Western and fusion fashion. It was such an honour to see Amy wearing my designs and best of all, they all suited her so much.’ Jaspal KaurMaster of Jewels, Jewellerywww.masterofjewelscollection.com

‘Amy was a complete gem and adorable! She has such a bubbly personality and is really fun to be around so I’m sure the film crews in India love it when she’s on set! I was able to demonstrate my make-up and hair skills on this lovely lady with complete ease, she trusted me completely which made my work a pleasure as I was able to create looks bespoke, just for her as I do with all my brides.’ Meeta Patel Shah, Hair & Make-upInstagram: MeetaPatel_Shah

‘When I launched Gursharon Bird Designs two years ago I could see a gap in the market for fusion clothes for modern men and women and that was my inspiration. Amy epitomises the contemporary fashionista, she too is a fusion of cultures and that’s why it was such a pleasure to dress her for the shoot. She wore every outfit to perfection. My signature Indian brocade looked just as effortless on her as the more Western themed pieces like the structured white dress.’ Gursharon Bird, Gursharon Bird Designs, Outfits, www.gursharonbirddesigns.comInstagram: GursharonBirdDesigns

TEAM AMY: The crew behind-the-scenes ensuring our Bollywood starlet dazzled

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Dosa v pancake? Dosa! Dosa and sambal baby that’s my usual South cinema breakfast. And in general I like spicy food. I miss my mum’s Sunday roasts, you can’t get a Yorkshire pudding in India, so when I go home I like to eat her food, but otherwise it’s spice all the way!

Yorkshire tea v masala chai?I like chai, normal chai, not the masala type, but when they fill it with lots of sugar. My mum hates it when she comes to set, but I like it.

Jeans v jodpuri pants? Hmmm…possibly in-between! Jeans with shalwar kameez – I’m very Desi.

Talking in cinemas v silence? Cheering! When you enter the cinema and you’re cheering, cheering, cheering because you can’t wait for the film to start and then as the film is playing and you favourite star comes on, showing your love for them. So cheering is good, but only in between the scenes, not talking over a film, that’s a no, no!

English time v Indian time? Look I just flew in from Mumbai so I’m ahead of you all anyway! (We’re going firmly with ‘Indian time’ on this one since Amy turned up two hours late to our Asiana shoot – her Desi Girl game is strong.)

Indian cricket v English cricket? Cricket…massively! If you’ve ever been to an Indian cricket match, they are on fire. So much better than football and I recently opened the first day of the IPL in Hyderabad, live on stage, in front of 50,000 people. It was amazing – the whole stadium was on fire!

Family v friends?I am so Indian, my mum comes everywhere with me. My mum and dad are always on set and they love it. I ask them to be there whenever I need them, having your parents around is very Indian. But I love my friends too, I still have the friends back home in Liverpool and they’ve come to visit me in India which has been really nice.

Sari v swimsuit? Sari every day! I swear to god, a sari is the sexiest thing a woman can wear. It shows you off in all the right places. Swimsuits are really tacky. I wore a sari for my very first film. It was amazing but very awkward first time. I had to practice in it for three months. And they padded me. My bum needed to be bigger so they put bum pads on me, under the sari. I was only 17. I was thinking don’t do that to me, I’m working towards being skinnier! But now I know how to wear a sari, I’m comfortable with them and can tie one on myself. VERDICT: Amy Jackson is 100% a Desi Girl!

Desi-ometerWe delve into Amy’s decision-making

to discover just how Desi she is!

Hair & make-up: Meeta Patel Shah Outfits: Gursharon Bird DesignsJewellery: Master of Jewels(see stockists p434)