On A Date with Sunny Leone: Part 1

It really feels like Sunny Leone has had our attention ever since the inception of the internet. I mean, what are the chances of ‘googling’ the name Sunny Leone when you are in front of your computer? And if you haven’t, you are living in denial. According to the urban dictionary, Read More">Sunny Leone means –Read More

It really feels like Sunny Leone has had our attention ever since the inception of the internet. I mean, what are the chances of 'googling' the name Sunny Leone when you are in front of your computer? And if you haven't, you are living in denial. According to the urban dictionary, Sunny Leone means - 'bombshell'. Only the really ambitious are fearless, have the optimism, the romanticism to take unimaginable risks, and this Indo-Canadian actress has proved just that with her entry in Bollywood. But that later. I'm back on my dating spree. Now everyone's nervous on their first date but take me for example, I'm more nervous with this one. But there's nothing more attractive than a bit of self confidence and then this happens - a nervous feeling in my gut. No, I didn't want to sit through a four course meal on my first meeting with her. So I decided to invite her to my creative pad. That would be more fun, more private. Yes, since she is such famously private, relatively a reclusive star, I can't help speculating, cheekily, about how she'd open up in a conversation... but she did. Dressed in black stockings, a black top and a blue skirt, Sunny Leone in flesh was unreal. She was there in front of me and all the seven dating tips I had learnt actually went for a toss. I invite her in, hand her the surprise gift, I want to hug her but hesitate, my photographer arranges his flash, I am still standing as I offer her a seat, I hesitate again but Leone is calm and composed and ready for the date, and the first words she utters are, "It'll be fun". To which I can only ask myself the same question that has nagged me since I first saw her enter my pad and shook her hands: Is this girl for real?

Devansh Patel (DP): Wow! On a Date with Sunny Leone.
Sunny Leone (SL): It'll be fun.

DP: Here's a rose for a rose.
SL: How did you decide that?

DP: There are many things synonymous to Sunny Leone but I think a rose was a perfect choice. It signifies love. It's May and it smells of roses.
SL: I like it and it'll go with my house really well.

DP: But this is a first for me. I mean, you are married and we are dating. So first things first. Recall your first date.
SL: My first date was in L.A. He was a really cute guy who took me out in Hollywood to a really fine restaurant in his Carerra (laughs). This was like twelve years ago. It was a nice date.

DP: There's something about people in India, especially boys, they find it difficult to date a girl and vice versa. It's too complex. They try too hard I feel.
SL: Why? Who cares? You keep trying right?

DP: It's like they want to date and then don't want to.
SL: Even though I'm not a traditional girl, but when it comes to dating I am a bit traditional. I like guys who can carry a conversation. It should be effortless. You'll know if it's going to work or not, whether it's just a hook up for the night or serious dating.

DP: And you’re doing Ragini MMS 2 too. Do you like scary movies? SL: I love scary movies. I’ve just got the Jessica Chastain movie Mama. I’ll go home and watch it. Actually, my friend Tanveer told me to watch a film called V/H/S and believe you me, Read More">it’s the scariest movie I’ve ever seen.Read More

DP: And you're doing Ragini MMS 2 too. Do you like scary movies?
SL: I love scary movies. I've just got the Jessica Chastain movie Mama. I'll go home and watch it. Actually, my friend Tanveer told me to watch a film called V/H/S and believe you me, it's the scariest movie I've ever seen. I didn't want to go out to walk my dogs. By the end of it, I was yelling at him (laughs).

DP: What would you do in Mumbai without Daniel - Has he been a strong support system?
SL: Of course yes. He is very rough and tough but quite sensitive too. He's from Brooklyn, New York and owns a steel factory there. He's worked with all sorts of crazy characters, he has a music band, he runs a production company in L.A. and he lets me be me. He does all the hard work and I get to be 'Sunny' (smiles). But honestly, he came into my life when I was going through my worst days. My mother passed away and in that given situation, most of them go away thinking it's a difficult situation to handle but Daniel stood like a rock there. Then my father was detected with Cancer and Daniel would take him to the chemotherapy, he would pick him up and then go to work and handle everything. That's just the way he is and that's how our family is. In this world, he'll be the one to say - "Ok, let's just do it. Daniel is my best friend"

Part 2 of On A Date with Sunny Leone continues...

Read More">DP: Do people call you Laila now-a-days? SL: (laughs) I don’t know but there are some people who call me Laila. I love that song. It really turned out beautiful and sexy. It’s really the guys’ song but I was just an eye candy but I have no problems with it. DP: You know youRead More

DP: Do people call you Laila now-a-days?
SL: (laughs) I don't know but there are some people who call me Laila. I love that song. It really turned out beautiful and sexy. It's really the guys' song but I was just an eye candy but I have no problems with it.

DP: You know you are the only NRI who has come to Bollywood and have gained an immense popularity from just two films. The last time we heard was when Katrina Kaif came to Mumbai. Have you met her?
SL: No, I haven't met her but she was fifteen feet away from me at an awards show (laughs). I think she is definitely someone who has worked really hard you can't take that away from her. She didn't know Hindi but she understood the language I assume. Likewise, I understood everything when I came to Mumbai even though I didn't speak fluently. I grew up in a typical desi home where my parents spoke in Punjabi everyday and watched Hindi movies. It's not easy, trust me. But I do relate to her success.

DP: Name some Hindi movies you saw as a kid with your family
SL: I loved the movie Dil. I loved the movie Khalnayak and don't ask me why I liked it. I met Preity Zinta yesterday and I recall her movie Kal Ho Na Ho. It was an emotional love story. It made me cry and I saw the movie over and over again.

Read More">DP: This is coming out of nowhere I know. But would you want to play a super girl sometime in your acting career? SL: I so want to play a super girl so bad (laughs). But I want to be like a Resident Evil girl. DP: Oh My God! Is that to worry about? SL:Read More

DP: This is coming out of nowhere I know. But would you want to play a super girl sometime in your acting career?
SL: I so want to play a super girl so bad (laughs). But I want to be like a Resident Evil girl.

DP: Oh My God! Is that to worry about?
SL: (laughs) No. She's so hot and she kicks b***y. The thing is that Indian movies don't really do such stuff for women. They should. Why? Tell me. Would you watch Kill Bill? And don't you want to see hot girls kicking around?

DP: I would love to see hot girls. Hell yes! Shootout At Wadala would've been even more sexier if there was a hot girl who could kick a**. But the movie was hot with you in the song.
SL: Thank you. I loved the way SAW was edited and shot. It was beautiful.

DP: Does a date go well with a movie conversation?
SL: I think it's one of the best ways to know somebody. In five minutes you know what is the taste of a person in movies, music and general. Like, I love The Goonies (laughs). But out here, I don't know whether people have seen that movie. It's a 'my' generation classic comic adventure movie.

DP: A lot of American shows like Dexter, Entourage, Sex in the City, etc. Would you want to be a part of such miniseries too?
SL: I am watching Dexter right now. But I hope so. I think for India, because of the perception of me and my background, it takes a lot of time for people to know me. If they are willing to give me a chance, I have to make them feel like I did a good job.

DP: You came, you saw and you conquered. Are you happy that you've achieved a massive fan following by doing only one full length feature film and one song. You're the current sensation.
SL: I don't know whether I've conquered and achieved what I want. But I do feel good about what's happening. It's a process. It's like a gift and you get your gift and try to make the most of it. I'm trying to keep pushing forward. I don't take holidays (laughs). I can't plan and that's a huge issue with me. This has so far been an amazing ride.