When a TV journalist asked a popular Bollywood actress whether she was “lowering the level of the fine art of cinema” because she used to act in porn movies, the interview went viral and many Indians jumped to her defence.
In a country where racy kissing scenes in films can get censored, it's remarkable that Sunny Leone, a Canadian-born former porn actress of Indian origin, has been able to build a whole new reputation – and fan base. After the interview aired over the weekend on a television news channel – including questions such as, “Pardon me if I’m being offensive here: How many people would dream of growing up to be a porn star?” – the criticism was immediate and widespread.
Leone, 31, was India’s most-searched-for person online in 2015. In the past three years, she has seamlessly journeyed from her porn-star past to a stint on a TV reality show to a successful career in the Indian film industry. She has acted in a murder thriller, a horror movie and an upcoming sex comedy.
But the journalist, Bhupendra Chaubey, peppered her with aggressive questions about her past as “a porn queen”.
Everything I've done in my life has led me into this seat. Everything has been a stepping stone to something bigger or better
A sample:
“If I was to turn the clock back, would you still do what you did?”