Sunny Leone never minces her words, no matter what. Irrespective of her choices or opinions, she’s been known to stand her ground and make good of her convictions. Recently, in an interview to the BBC, she spoke at length about her choices, career and the gory web of judgments and reactions that are thrown her way every time she is accused of “destroying the Indian culture’’.
Leone talks about her decision to enter the house of Bigg Boss and the reservations she had on account of how the Indian community viewed her as a “disgrace’’. She also admits that she chose to stay on in this country despite her misgivings about India and its attitude towards women, because there were a lot more people happy watching her on television than not.
It is the weirdest feeling when you have all these judgements about something and then you get there and it is the complete opposite... I was completely wrong to think that people wouldn’t accept me
The Porn Industry Vs Bollywood
Furthermore, she compares the adult entertainment industry with the Indian film industry citing the former as one where she was never questioned about who she was, her sexuality, her integrity as a woman and so on and so forth. On the other hand, the Indian film industry, she says, is one where maybe people have to “compromise on their integrity and who they are and it is probably a horrible feeling’’.
Leone agrees that she gets judged for her past, but also concedes that she knew what she was getting into.
I know when someone maybe hires me, they want Sunny Leone to show up... I can guess that it is something more on the sexier side... maybe that some people are not comfortable with... but that’s the image I created, I am okay with it.
Brand ‘Sunny Leone’
Leone mentions that the only way to deal with inappropriate comments is to say what one feels in the most non-emotional way.
On selling brand ‘Sunny Leone’ along with a film, she says
I don’t see the word objectification as a bad word. We all objectify things and products and people to sell the product that we wish to sell.
'Don't Google Her If You Don't Like Her'
Lastly, on being asked for her reaction to the police complaint filed against her that said she was ‘’destroying Indian culture and promoting obscenity through her videos’’, Leone declares quite frankly that to say that she is corrupting one of the largest populations in the entire world is just ignorance.
I respect the fact that you might not agree with my decisions in life... that’s your right, but I don’t push my views or my opinions or my videos that you are watching and Googling my name in and then deciding that you want to watch them... if you don’t want to watch them, then don’t type my name in Google and you won’t find them
On a Woman Being Cast in a Certain Role on Account of the Way She Looks
What is it that we are going to get out of it... as a brand, as a business and that’s kinda how we weigh out what to do and what not to do
Lastly, she resolves the feminist questions thrown her way by claiming that it all boil downs to the ‘’benefit’’ she draws out of the roles. If she feels it will help her in some way, help her career in some way, she will do it.
If somebody wants to pay me a million dollars to be in a song, then i will be in that song. It is very simple.
(Source: BBC News)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)