In October 2010, we had interviewed fashion photographer, Atul Kasbekar (of Kingfisher Calender fame), and asked the then-finalist of the televised Kingfisher Calendar Hunt, Angela Jonsson, what her career plans were. ‘‘Move to Mumbai and get into Bollywood,” she’d said. Almost two years later, the 22-year-old model, who went on to win the contest, is right on track. She can’t divulge details about her upcoming Bollywood production, but rumour has it that producer Sajid Nadiawala has signed her on for a big banner project. Despite keeping her lips sealed about her role, she tells us how she’s prepping for it, during a freewheeling chat about her childhood, growing up with nine siblings and what’s on her bucket list.
Family matters
“I suppose it’s unusual,” Jonsson admits, about having nine siblings - six sisters and three brothers. That said, nothing about this beauty is mundane.
Born in Chennai to an Icelandic father and a Mangalorean mother, her exotic genes only add an interesting dimension to her beauty. Her parents met through mutual friends, while her father was making a pit stop in India on a world tour. “They hit it off instantly and decided to get married. It was a big deal 30 years ago, for an Indian to be marrying a foreigner. But they’re still together, and share a beautiful relationship,” she says. Jonsson is more like her mother, she feels, who is “a thinker, very organised and a ‘clean’ freak. She is also very caring and I’m a lot like that. But I have a little bit of my dad as well. He’s chilled out, fun and outdoorsy.” Jonsson spent her childhood in Kodaikanal on a farmhouse, where her parents (coffee exporters, now based in Bangalore), owned a plantation, so loving the outdoors came naturally. “I got to do things that most kids don’t get to do in cities. We played outside all the time and went camping in the forest often,” she says, adding, “Growing up with so many siblings was fun. The only problem is that having a complete family reunion is hard! It’s been about a year since we’ve managed one.” She studied in Kodaikanal International School, where she reveals that she was the studious sort, “always the first one to reach class.” And she hated Math. “History and Science were my favourite subjects. I was very sporty and we could do so many things, like horse-back riding. I have really fond memories of the place,” reminisces Jonsson. Her family and close friends are the people she looks up to. “It would be cliched to say that my mum is my role model, but I try not to look too far from home. My family and best friends are the people who most influence me, because I would rather fashion my personality after people I know,” she elaborates. Jonsson, who is now based in Mumbai, visits home in Bangalore as often as possible; that is, when she is not busy getting acquainted with the inner workings of Bollywood.
On the job
She admits that her parents were hesitant when she decided to become a model. “Everyone in my family is doing different things - one is a chef, one is a teacher, another is an air hostess, one is an art student,” Jonsson explains. When she decided to enter the Kingfisher Calendar Hunt after friends in Bangalore convinced her to do so, her parents did have concerns initially. “But then they realised that they’ve raised me right. I mean, I was old enough to legally drink and vote, so they trusted me,” she explains. But was modelling always on the cards? “Not really. I was interested in fashion, but never considered modelling,” she says, laughing. “It just kind of happened in a way, it’s been fantastic,” she adds. Being part of the Kingfisher Calendar Hunt was a life-changing experience, feels Jonsson, who rates her body an eight on ten, according to her Facebook page. “It was a tough competition. I was so inexperienced and I was just kind of thrown into the frying pan. I was so unaware of what I was doing that people on the show actually told me to go online and learn how to strike a couple of poses! But the experience was terrific, as was shooting with Atul (Kasbekar) in Mauritius for the calendar after that,” she says. And what now, with Bollywood calling? ‘‘For me, the script has to have something close to home, something I can relate to,’’ she begins, admitting only that she has signed on a film. ‘‘It is still very much in the early stages, so I really can’t say anything about it. I’m learning Hindi for it, studying dance and taking acting classes,” is all Jonsson reveals. Upbeat about the experience, she continues, “I feel like I’ll get caught up with acting, but I do love modelling as well. It has been challenging over the past year.”
Keeping it personal
Not up to discussing her love life publicly, especially after the rumour mills were working overtime last year, linking her with Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, she says, “I don’t think I would talk about something so super personal. That’s my stance on it. I’m very much a family girl and this is the way I’ve been brought up,” she states. That said, she doesn’t always play it safe. In an interview with another publication, she was quoted saying her fantasies, ‘‘don’t involve innocent, good boys.’’ Taking it for granted that she was one of the prettiest girls in school, we ask her to share some of the cheesiest pick-up lines that have come her way. She surprises us with - “I wasn’t the prettiest girl, I was quite awkward actually. For a really long while, I was too tall - taller than all the boys, so I was really shy. Thankfully, I grew out of that stage, but I never really had anyone use cheesy pick-up lines,” she says, between giggles, adding, “recently, though, I have come across some men who’ve sent me very sweet, but rather desperate messages on Twitter. They’re really cute and they make me laugh.”
The other side
If she wasn’t modelling, Jonsson would probably have been a dancer. “I think it’s still something I could choose to do. I studied dance, first in school, then on my own and later with some personal tutors. I’ve taken courses in salsa, contemporary dance, ballet and Bharatnatyam for a little over a year. For the last six months, I’ve been learning Kathak as well,” she reveals. Not much of a clubber, she reiterates that she loves to stay home. “I’m really not a party girl. If I have to go out for an event, I have to be dragged. I enjoy just chilling with my friends and family, sometimes almost to the point of being boring!” she exclaims. Then, as an afterthought, she corrects herself, “No actually, that doesn’t mean I’m boring. I do enjoy travelling and experiencing different cultures. I’m also an avid reader and love watching TV.”
People might be surprised to learn that she’s also a gamer. “I’m really good at the game UFC on PlayStation. I can kick any guy’s ass on it,” she discloses. As for her fashion sense, she would rather mix it up. “I love a bit of both, street shopping and classic designer wear that lasts for a while. I’m not picky, comfort is more important. I would describe my style as chic, casual and feminine. For everyday wear, I like brands like Topshop, Forever 21 and River Island,” she says. Her beauty mantra is also simple. “I steer clear of commercial products, and try to keep my skincare regime natural. I use mud face masks from the Dead Sea,” Jonsson explains. More important though, for her, is fitness. “It’s yoga three or four days a week, combined with workouts at the gym,” she says. So, ten years down the line, where does she see herself ? “I have no clue. When you’re in your early twenties, you don’t think that far ahead. Hopefully, I will have a great body of work. I also just want to be happy, I don’t have goals that are more detailed than that,” she concludes. Going by her recent quote, where she said,‘‘Happy girls are the prettiest girls,’’ there are no doubts on that front.