An Open Letter To Sunny Leone: How You Made Me Fall In Love With You!

You must be wondering that this letter must be coming from a crazy fan of yours who just can't deal with his obsession with you, right?

Actually,no. I am a woman, and I just wanted to tell you that you have completely won my heart. How and why? Please read on.

When you entered the Indian TV scene with Bigg Boss, I was skeptical just like every other person watching out for a little entertainment on the small screen. "What is the point, even?" I had thought. To be honest, I was not too sure if you would survive the vitriol being spewed against you. I didn't care, then. As a regular Indian belonging to a middle-class family, I was taught to shut my eyes and close my ears whenever anyone happened to mention porn, and I did exactly that. How could I relate to a person who was an adult film star and had dared come to a traditionally conservative country like ours? The land of Kamasutra, yes. So I tried to ignore. You were an actor, after all. Plenty come, plenty go; that's what most of the people thought about you.

But you stayed.

You stayed despite all the barrage of hatred against you. You stayed despite all the criticism hurled at you on the accounts of ruining Indian 'Culture' and 'Values'. You stayed despite the downright disgusting and condescending attitude of reporters and the media. You stayed, and you held your ground. You were harassed with endless questions and accusations regarding your past profession, and you took all of them in your stride. Calmly. Beautifully. I was silently watching. 

After the moral brigade, came the critics. Asking about your acting skills, your capabilities to face the camera in a normal role which suits Bollywood (I absolutely have no clue what that means) and a plethora of other things. They branded you as an eye candy, a decor for the movie and what not. You still stayed.

Meanwhile, I kept wondering, "Who are these people you keep getting compared to? Who are these people who claim that you have made Bollywood movies salacious? Who are these people who are asking questions that how responsible do you feel for the increase in consumption of porn in our country?" 

Are these the same people who quietly enjoy songs like "Chikni Chameli", "Kundi Mat Khadkao Raja"? Songs which have lyrics like "Main to tandoori Murgi hun Yaar"? Are these the same people who find it fine and spicy enough to watch a rape scene on screen and joke about it? Are these the same people who have hidden folders in their computers which contain many GBs of what they openly condemn, but secretly love?

The portrayal of women in Bollywood mainstream cinema has never been short of shallow, superficial, and decorative. I can prove it with innumerable examples and bore you to death but I want you to read this letter till the end and I know you don't have enough time at your disposal. I'll be quick with what I need to tell you. 

You stood your ground against all these odds. That infamous interview where you were questioned with utmost disregard of your personal space and life, if I were in your place, I would have flipped out. You didn't and that is what makes you stand out. You defined how grace can trump all of the negative responses that come your way. If only people could decide to look at you the way you have carved your space in Bollywood, they would understand what a hardworking woman of strength you are. 

I know I might get a lot of flak for saying all of this, getting branded with n number of tags. But the truth is, I am in awe of you. And not just that, your humility and perseverance as a person is so endearing, that you might not even know how effective that is. I still remember I was covering one of your events in Delhi, and people went crazy. I was the only woman in front, and the crowd was going haywire. You were the one who was constantly getting concerned. Every time I was feeling uncomfortable, you did too and you made sure that you took out time to give responses. Not everyone does that, you see. Your upcoming documentary "Mostly Sunny, Partly Cloudy" would definitely give answers to many people. I want them to know the woman I have seen through lenses and stories. I want them to know how amazing a daughter you were. I want them to know that every time you visit the beach to be close to your parents whom you loved like no one else. I want them to know the woman who loves her husband to bits, the woman who stood up for her decisions. I want them to know  Sunny Leone beyond the screen, beyond the Baby Doll and Supergirl from China, and more than that I want them to know Karenjit Kaur Vohra who shaped her own life, on her own terms.  

As a person who believes in equality and a better tomorrow, I believe you will get even better opportunities in your career. At the end of this letter, I am even more in love with you. Stay the way you are Sunny, don't change.

Love and Hugs,

An Admirer.