Jesse Randhawa has made her television debut with life Ok’s Supercops vs Supervillains-Shapath. She chatted with Karan Bhardwaj
For those who are even remotely interested in the world of fashion, Jesse Randhawa is a familiar name. A supermodel for over a decade, she has ruled the roost by strutting down the ramp for almost every big designer. Her panache and elegance that she wears in her suave walk make her a favourite. Now Jesse is ready for her second innings. She is playing a role of an Interpol officer in life OK’s Supercops vs Supervillains-Shapath. She finds the character quite close to her real personality. “I am an outdoor person and being a martial art artist, I love action and stunts. So I immediately grabbed the opportunity. There was a lot of action on the first day itself,” she told us during her visit to the Capital. In the show, she is seen riding dirt bikes and wearing harness to jump from one building to another. “I was told that I needed a body double but I refused since I wanted to do the shots myself,” she said.
Jesse’s stint with acting began with Anurag Kashyap’s Gulal. The filmmaker convinced her for a small yet meaty role. “He said he could see a good actor in me. I was amused but gave it a shot since it was an offbeat character,” she said. The small stint with the filmmaker encouraged her to explore the art of acting. “It was difficult, much more than modelling. You have to put in the whole emotion and soul into it. It’s not easy. It’s more creative and there’s much more energy,” she described.
Jesse, wife of choreographer and dancer Sandip Soparrkar, appeared in Miss India 1994 contest along with Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai and also made it to the finals. “Initially, I wanted to be a pilot. I got my private license too. After that, when I was heading for a commercial license, I got a call from Miss India. There was no looking back since then. I got offers for modelling and music videos immediately,” she shared.
She thinks that a model can not only act but can also make it to the top of the game. However, a lot of newbies get into modelling assuming it is a ticket to Bollywood.
“Modelling cannot make you a winner in acting. In fact, it makes it difficult. While walking on the ramp, your body becomes stiff and you get used to certain angles which make you look good. You forget to be on your own in front of the camera, which is important in movies,” she said. The fashion industry has evolved in the last few years and Indian models are getting more lucrative opportunities than ever before. But Jesse rued, “Personally, I think there’s too much of it and I wouldn’t like to see it anymore. Fashion industry is spreading and we are covered internationally. There’s a lot of competition because of new crop of designers and models. However, I have cut down on the fashion shows majorly and I participate only in selected shows.”
The supermodel believes in healthy living and practices yoga instead of hitting machines. “I do Ashtanga yoga which has kept me in perfect shape for years. I don’t gym at all,” she said. She now looks forward to doing films. “But they should be challenging. I am quite a moody person,” she concluded.