Chalta-phirta acting paathshala

B-Town newbie and Alladin debutante Jacqueline Fernandez has acting guru Vinod Tharani on call

Jacqueline Fernandez who makes her debut in Sujoy Ghosh’s Alladin depends on her acting guru completely. The fantasy film, which stars Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh and Sanjay Dutt, has Jacqueline essaying the female lead.

It is learnt that Vinod Tharani, who trains newbies in the hows and whys of acting, frequents Alladin’s sets whenever Jacqueline feels she needs to rehearse.

Says an onlooker, “The film had a schedule in Film City earlier and is currently being shot at Mehboob Studios. Jacqueline is often seen going through every line of the scene with Vinod before she steps in front of the camera.”

It is learnt that Tharani had also groomed Deepika Padukone at the request of director Farah Khan before Om Shanti Om rolled.

Teaching the craft

Says Tharani, “I have been coaching Jacqueline for the past eight months. My task is to teach the craft to freshers. It includes the entire gamut from emoting, voice modulation to dialogue delivery. Acting is all about the right body language.”

He admits that he visits the Alladin sets whenever needed. “Jacqueline and I rehearse the entire scene before the shoot happens and my presence depends on what scene is being shot.”
Tharani has this to say about his other famous student, “When I was coaching Deepika, her style of talking is on a higher note, so I had to tone her voice down considerably.”

Modelling agencies he is associated with, put him though to prospective students. “Of course, who I tutor depends on the temperament of the student learning the craft.”

Besides training models and aspiring actors, Tharani, who has a theatre background, is also an actor himself. He has featured in the Aftab-Ameesha starrer Kya Yehi Pyar Hai and in soaps like Kaajal, Pancham, CID and Kohinoor.

Jacqueline kaun?

A former Miss Sri Lanka, Jacqueline Fernandez competed in the Miss Universe 2006 pageant. She grew up in Bahrain, where her parents were based. After a degree in media and communications from Sydney, she moved back to her home country to participate in the beauty pageant. She also worked as an anchor for a Lankan TV channel till B-Town beckoned. Last year there was buzz about her and Vivek Oberoi when they were spotted together at events.

Author: Shaheen Parkar | Source: Mid-Day