Indians have come forward to support Bollywood actress Sunny Leone, after she was hounded over her past as a porn star by a television journalist in India.
Leone was born as Karenjit Kaur Vohra in Canada to a Sikh immigrant family and has become one of the most controversial and provicative figure in Bollywood, since her arrival in India. In fact she has been the most searched person on google in India for the past 3 years and has even faced deportation calls from conservatives for alleged 'corruption of Indian's morals'.
The latest storm began when Leone gave a television interview to CNN-IBN anchor Bhupendra Chaubey who persisted on asking questions about Leone's past in an apparent attempt to have her to apologise for her pornographic career. In fact he asked 'what her greatest regret was', clearly trying corner her for her former choice of career, but was left dumbfounded when Leone replied that her greatest regret was 'failing to reach before her mother died'.
In another attempt to allegedly malign Leone, Chaubey asked her, if she was responsible for a surge in pornographic consumption in India. He went on to ask, “I am thinking, am I being morally corrupted if I am intervieweing you?”
While Leone kept her calm through out the interview, Chaubey has been accused of misogyny. Many Indians voiced their support, including Bollywood actors like Aamir Khan.
In a tweet Aamir mentioned: “I think Sunny conducted herself with a lot of grace and dignity. I wish I could have said the same about the interviewer.” He further added, “Sunny, I wil b happy 2 wrk wid u.I hav absolutely no problems wid ur "past", as the interviewer puts it.Stay blessed.Love.a.2/2”
To that a jubilated Leone added, “I think my heart just dropped seeing this!! Thank you so much for the support. It means the world and beyond to me!”
Daniel Weber, Sunny Leone's husband, has also come out and reportedly condemned the interviewer. Weber who is a journalist and actor, said he came to know about the interview after Sunny called him. She told him that if he would have been there, he would have dragged her out of the interview.
By labeling the interviewer as "unprofessional", Weber has hit out at the journalist for not abiding by the ethics and having pre-conceived notions about the actress. He has also praised Sunny's sporting spirit for handling the issue. But he added that such things do bother Sunny, for which he feels sad.
There were also speculations about the interview being a publicity stunt to promote Sunny's upcoming sex comedy 'Mastizaade'. Weber has rubbished off such theories as he feels nobody would like to be in the position of Sunny.
Some of the questions Chaubey asked were:
* There are lots of married women who look at Sunny Leone as a threat to their husbands, do you not care about all this?
* A member of parliament, in his speeches, has held you responsible for corrupting Indian morality. How do you deal with that?
* If Sunny Leone is becoming brand ambassador of New India, is that a dangerous trend to have?
* Since you have come to Indian cinema, the number of people watching porn has increased proportionately to the extent that we are now the world’s largest consumer of porn. Can you respond to that?
Bollywood stars' reactions to Leone's interview on twitter:
Shahid Kapoor: @SunnyLeone respect. Few could have been as composed dignified and classy as you were. you sure showed men it's a woman's world. Boom!
Alia Bhatt: That was literally NOT an interview.. Just hyper opinionated statements with a question mark at the end!!! No Grace? Chivalry? Ridiculous!
Anushka Sharma: This downright distasteful interview shows d journalists intellect & lack of basic human respect & nothing else.kudos @SunnyLeone
Rishi Kapoor: Very unfair & rude interview with Sunny Leone on CNN IBN. She is taking it on her chin sportingly, obviously in the interest of her coming film.
Armaan Malik: SO much Respect to u Sunny @SunnyLeone the way you handled that stupid Interview! Do what you love and Don't stop.
Farah Khan: One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.@SunnyLeone im a fan!
Dia Mirza: He asks the same question for 20minutes. Because she doesn't satisfy him with the response he's looking for.#Respect
Genelia Deshmukh: So disappointed to see such disrespect towards a woman.. Is this Journalism??.I don't know @SunnyLeone personally but what a dignified lady.
Gaurav Kapur: As a live broadcaster, you must be objective & rid yourself of all bias before an interview. Bhupendra's every word reeks of a dodgy agenda.
Radhika Apte: Appalled by the journalist and his lack of intellect, humanity and respect. Bravo @SunnyLeone in complete support.
Mastizaada Milap: She is a rockstar! My #MastizaadiSunny Love her!
Shruti Haasan: Well done @SunnyLeone keeping it together in the face of opinionated misguided questions #mortifyingjournalism
Vir Das: Here's hoping Mr Chaubey's next interview explores something other than his own prejudice.
Sushant S Rajput: How beautifully u held your own in that stupid interview @SunnyLeone .Some1 should have taught him how to respect a woman when he was a kid.
Shabinaa Khan: Sick that a journalist @bhupendrachaube should conduct such a disgusting, patronising , sexist interview@sunnyleone
Mini Mathur: Yes and such stupid questions!He is so googly eyed & patronising while @SunnyLeone holds her own so beautifully
Shruti Seth: A rockstar being interviewed by a misogynistic idiot. You owned this one @SunnyLeone with your grace & poise. Bravo!
