LOS ANGELES—Crossover star Sunny Leone continues to log more work in Bollywood, which not only has embraced her as a bona fide star but now apparently believes she is one of its hottest emerging commodities. Two recent power moves by the stunning adult performer make the point.
Just this weekend word on the street was that Leone would be taking over the role of Nana Patekar in the upcoming Welcome 2, replacing Mallika Sherawat, who originated the part in the prequel. But that’s just the first piece of Leone news. It was also reported that the former Vivid Girl and Bigg Boss 5 contestant has inked a three-film deal with producer Parag Sanghvi (last film, 24/7) for a whopping amount of Rs 5 crore.”
According to our currency translator, Rs 5 crore amounts to a smidgen over $1,300,000, an amount Bollywoodlife.com characterizes as “obscene,” as in obscenely high. It's an odd characterization considering that one male member of the "Bollywood fraternity" was paid a Rs 60 crore for one film in 2012, making him the top-paid Bollywood actor for the year. Leone did not even make the 2012 top ten list, which has two actresses on it. She is certainly headed in the right direction, but labeling this latest deal "obscene" begs the question, "Why?"
Dnaindia.com also referred to her alleged remuneration as a “whopping amount,” but quoted Sanghvi as declining to confirm any details except that the three-movie deal exists and that the first project is to begin production this summer.
“It’s too early to reveal any details,” he said. “We start shooting after three months and we are still in finalizing stages. The first film will be on the lines of a thriller, is all I can say at this point.”
He also refuted rumors that the deal included a clause prohibiting Leone from taking any other projects until after the three movies are completed.
Leone’s good fortune in India is in stark contrast to other escalating rumblings over the issue of access to online porn. Last week, according to lifesitenews.com, “The Supreme Court of India … asked the government to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that seeks to ban online pornography.
“The petition comes in the wake of a brutal gang-rape of a five-year-old girl in the city of Delhi and the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a city bus,” the article continued.
Leone herself was “dragged” into the national debate last week during an appearance on the Headlines Today news channel.
“Pornography is not for people who think it’s for real. It’s fantasy and it’s entertainment,” she said, adding, “It’s complete nonsense to blame rape on adult material out there. Education starts at home. It’s mums and dads sitting with their children and teaching them what is right and wrong.”
