They say whatever you may have done in your past, whatever wrong may have happened to you, leave those bitter memories back, forget and move one! (most of the times it is wrong/bitter from public’s perspective!). But this theory changes or evaporates completely from our minds when it comes to our Bollywood’s hottest actress Sunny Leone, who, these days, is climbing the stairs of success in her changed career.
It happens with almost everyone in life’s journey that they end up choosing not-so-good paths and later decide to change them so as to choose the better one. Sunny Leone turned out to be one among such people, because her previous field was the most tabooed one, especially in country like India with high cultural values. It was not a swift turnover for her, to change from being an adult star into one of the Bollywood`s famous actresses. But it seems that it is not easy for Indians to digest her profession stream change and accept her as one of the Bollywood`s top stars. Focusing on her past, she is still being mentally harassed by some of her ill-wishers; certain events stand evidence to this.
In 2011, Indian audiences had formal introduction of Karenjit Kaur Vohra aka Sunny Leone via reality show named Bigg Boss, and it was filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who gave Leone an entry ticket into Bollywood through Jism 2 in 2012. Her first film worked moderately at box-office, but the fact which cannot be ignored is except for her two films i.e. Jism 2 and Ragini MMS 2, no other films of her worked wonders. Now, irony here is, her past profession was wittingly plotted in these two cinemas and that may be the reason why it attracted crowd. But, when it was the time for her other films, they certainly witnessed a doom due to their storyline. What surprising result it gives is, people go to cinema halls when something related to her past is being shown, and at the same time dislike her for the same cause.
Come what may, she never tried to conceal her past and had always been open about it when it came to answering media. In one of the interview excerpts she said, “I believe I lead my life just the way I want to. I am free to do what I want without any restrictions. I informed my parents after I won the Penthouse cover-of-the-year and $100,000. It was impossible to keep it a secret. How would they react? Obviously there was a confrontation between us. They were upset at first. Eventually they came to terms with the fact that it is what I’ve chosen to do with my life. With time they came to know I’m still their daughter, still the same person.”
People have never stopped speculating about her which always has got her stuck in the web of rumors. But, after she got to know what views public has about her; she actually requested to forget her past and accept new her. It was noticed very recently during a promotional event, when she said, “I can’t change people’s perception, unfortunately, because I can’t erase the internet. But I hope that as I meet each new person, I change that person’s perception and how they see me as a person, a brand and an actress. I still don’t believe that I can do that on my own. It’s actually the media that can do it. Because when they stop putting that tag right in front of my name, that’s when the public will forget about it as well. So as soon as the media deletes those two words, then my fans will also delete it from their mind.”
It is quite pitiful to see that she still has to be apologetic for a choice she made in past from which she has totally separated now. What if once upon a time she was an adult star? It was an independent decision she had made long time back under certain circumstances. So, doesn`t she deserve a second chance and respectable position in film industry? The hypocrisy plays a major role here and acts as a barrier in between the decision: whether to accept her or not? Why today audiences feel fascinated towards her? If it hadn`t been for her past, she would have never been what she is today.
In one of the interviews to Hindustan Times, she was quoted saying, “Of course, there were challenges. There are pros and cons to everything. But I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for my past. Have I turned the page and moved on in life? Yes, I have, but I wouldn’t have this popularity without that past. If I had come in as a new girl, who hadn’t done anything, I don’t think I would have risen to fame like I have. However, now I feel that I need to make different choices in terms of the films I do.”
If she has her plans fixed in mind regarding her career, who are we to impose restrictions on her? Very recently, an FIR was lodged against her when a group named The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) excavated some of Leone`s past work and accused her of promoting vulgarity and destroying women’s dignity. To this, she strongly replied, “The objectionable video clips circulating here belong to when I was working in the adult film industry in the US. I have distanced myself from any such roles after becoming a part of the Indian film fraternity. I feel it would be improper to haunt me with the past when I am trying to move ahead in life.”
It was even rumored that no owners in Mumbai were ready to rent their flats to her. Such have been the controversies surrounding a woman, who decided to go bold but is still paying off its price.
Hence, it would be much better if we accept her along with her past and start looking her in fresh, new light as a Bollywood actress. Not to forget, based on public votes, she was also chosen as India’s most desirable this year, according to TOI’s poll. We can consider this as a better start off, and hope that she achieves new heights in her career without being taunted about her past years.
Tags: bollywood Karenjit Kaur Vohra Sunny Leone
