Sunny Leone, who started off as an adult film star and ventured into Bollywood with Jism 2 in 2012, is right now in love with her life as it is unfolding. She is not just managing a career, but also enjoying her time being a mother of three — something that has helped her change and evolve.
The Canadian-born Indian-American actress was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003 and shifted her focus to mainstream acting in Hindi films with Jism 2, following it up with Ragini MMS 2, Ek Paheli Leela, Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, Mastizaade and Tera Intezaar.
Asked if she feels content when she looks back at her journey from Karenjit Kaur Vohra (her real name) to Sunny Leone, she said: “Yes, because I love my life now.”
Her life has inspired a digital platform series titled Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story of Sunny Leone.
Did she have any initial apprehensions about putting her entire life out for the world to know?
“Yes, many. But what swayed me to do it is that the story would be told in a way that I was comfortable with... the true story and not something that people believe it to be,” said Sunny, who entered Indian showbiz via a stint in the reality TV show Bigg Boss 5.
Last year, the actress, who is married to Daniel Weber, took everyone by surprise when she announced that she and her husband had adopted a girl child named Nisha from a village in Latur. Another surprise came in March, when she shared that the two had extended their brood by including two more children — sons Noah and Asher — via surrogacy.
Sunny, who is currently seen hosting season 11 of youth-based reality show Splitsvilla on MTV, says motherhood has changed her.
“I have changed and evolved, but I believe (it has happened) for the better. I look at all three of them and am completely, utterly in love with them,” she said.
With three toddlers to give attention to, will her career slow down?
“I believe I am the best mother I can be if I am working and spending time with them. I love my job and I hope my children grow up to be just as hardworking as my husband and I,” said Sunny.
The 37-year-old actress says Daniel and she have scheduled their “time carefully so that our children do not ever feel a lack of attention, care or love”.
Ever since her debut in Bollywood, Sunny has faced flak, trolls and criticism. She finds it immature and not necessary.
“I try to brush it off and move past the hate always. I believe myself not to be a negative person so I have to find the positives in life and in people to do my job. That will never change in me. But I am affected and more annoyed from time to time at the nonsense the media comes up with or random groups come up with. It is immature and not necessary,” she said.
“I always pictured three children in my head but as time went by and no children... I would have been happy with one but God had different plans and made my dreams come true of a big family,” Sunny said.
She is new to motherhood and is absolutely enjoying it.
“I am the same person but now I have more love to spread to my kids. I’m so happy about being a mother,” she said.
But what’s it like to be a mother in the 21st century when crimes against children, especially girls, are increasing?
“I don’t think they have increased. I believe that the news is highlighting what has been happening for a long time already,” she said.
She just hopes “swift and harsh punishments follow these acts by the perpetrators”.
Her focus is on her children’s safety first.
“I do believe in neighbourhood safety groups for our children,” Sunny said.
Her little ones keep her on her toes but work hasn’t taken a backseat. She is excited about Karenjit Kaur — The Untold Story Of Sunny Leone.
“Initially, my answer (to make a show on her life) was that I wasn’t sure. But once I started hearing about what the director and the production house wanted, I started having an interest in it,” said the Indo-Canadian talent.
What should the audience expect from the show?
“The unexpected. This is a part of my life story and not necessarily the journey you are expecting to see,” she said.
There was also a Canadian documentary called Mostly Sunny. Why does she feel the need to tell her story to the world?
“Many people are curious (about her choices and journey) and want to know; so, I believe that if I’m going to tell it then it should be in my words and from my eyes. That wasn’t the case with the documentary,” said the actress, who has also made appearances in Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and Tamil films.
“What we have made is better than a film because it gets into many details that a film will never be able to explain. For a film, the team will pick and choose what they want to show in 100-120 minutes. This (Karenjit Kaur...) is showing two seasons and 20 episodes of my story. It’s only the tip of the iceberg,” she added.
Moving on, the actress said the ability to be good friends at first is the key to a sparkling chemistry in a relationship. “It is honesty and the ability to be friends first.”
Meanwhile, Sunny’s cosmetics brand ‘Star Struck by Sunny Leone’ uses animal rights organisation PETA India’s cruelty-free logo as it is against testing products on animals.
The brand is featured on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India’s ‘Companies That Don’t Test on Animals’ list, which recognises companies that sell only cruelty-free cosmetics, personal care, and household cleaning products.
“Increasingly, consumers today want to be confident their purchases do not support harm to animals. PETA India’s cruelty-free logo will help Star Struck proudly show that we are firmly against caging, poisoning (and) killing animals in any tests,” Sunny said in a statement.
Sunny’s company has helped with an online promotional campaign and contest with the animal rights organisation.
PETA India, whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”, notes that more than 3,000 companies around the world have banned all animal tests in favour of effective, modern, non-animal methods.
Sunny has been an animal advocate. She was PETA India’s 2016 Person of the Year and has appeared in numerous campaigns for the group, including a pro-vegan fashion ad, a pro-vegetarian ad, an ad promoting the sterilisation of animal companions, and a pro-adoption campaign. — IANS
I love my job and I hope my children grow up to be just as hardworking as my husband and I
