Does Ex Porn Star Sunny Leone Need a Bollywood Image Makeover?
Ex-porn star Sunny Leone is trying her darnedest to shed her porn star image. Problem is that Bollywood producers are no more enlightened than their American counterparts. Who better to inject sex appeal into your movie than a former porn star? Put her in a bikini, throw water on her and watch box office receipt grow. Sex sells, no matter where in the world you call home.
Sunny Leone, who was born in Canada, is trying her best to prove to everyone in Bollywood that her talent is not only what she straps into a bikini top. However, that is easier said than done. A look at Ms. Leone's filmography while in Bollywood, one gets the impression she is not quite ready herself to shed the sexpot image, or producers won't allow it.
Leone captured the hearts of all of India when she entered the famous Bigg Boss House in season 5 of the show. The idea of an ex-porn star in the house fascinated the nation to no end. Though she didn't win, she was on Bollywood's radar.
Leone takes a more philosophical view of this new phase of her career:
"I am not among the ones who would run away from my past or hesitate to recognise the work I did. I have always had this bold attitude and have taken every decision consciously. At the same I have also got immense love and affection from the people who have seen my work in Bollywood. I hope they remember me for my work."
Whether or not they can remains to be seen. In this country, Traci Lords was able to make people "forget" about her past eventually. If Sunny Leone is to do the same, she is going to have to do it through her acting. Sure, people will still think about her previous career. She just has to convince them it is a thing of the past.