'You don't have to be a size zero to be attractive on screen. It's about owning who you are and your body and embracing it.'
Straight talk from Sunny Leone.
Sunny Leone may have the perfect figure but she works really hard to maintain it.
"If you're not suffering, you're not dieting," she says, with good logic.
But ask her what she's craving to eat, and she'll say without a pause: "Chocolate Souffle."
The gorgeous actress is currently promoting her new film, One Night Stand, co-starring Rati Agnihotri's son Tanuj Virvani.
Looking lovely in a black crop top, black pants and floral jacket, Sunny takes questions about her life -- as well as a Rapid Fire on video! -- from Jahnavi Patel/ Rediff.com.
How tough is promoting a movie in this Mumbai heat?
It's okay because I go from bubble to bubble -- from the car to the hotel or my home -- so I don't see too much of the heat. I am staying cool that way.
We all need to promote movies to make it successful. It might be the best product in the world but if no one knows where to find you, you'll fail.
At this moment in time, every actor or actress who enters the industry has so much power at their fingertips that they can be as successful as they want to be -- and that happens with promoting, doing interviews and meeting people.
One Night Stand was announced in 2014. Why did it take so long for the film to release?
I think people forget that there's an entire process to create and shoot a movie. I would rather that a movie takes its time than rush through shooting, pre-production and post-production and end up looking not great.
One Night Stand is not a very typical Bollywood film title.
I think when you have titles that are catchy or make you think about the movie, it's a good one.
Yes, this isn't a normal title that you'd hear for a Bollywood movie but that's what makes it different, and it's good to be different.
Yes, it's a one night stand but our film starts after that.
When the film was announced, you had talked about having a one night stand. Did it go as badly as this one in the film?
No, it did not. I don't know people who have gone through an experience like this.
This is a moment that has gone bad for these two characters.
Having a one night stand was a wrong decision on many different levels, and that's the message the movie sends out.
Your co-stars are mostly newcomers or non-stars, and your films usually rest on your shoulders. How much pressure is that?
Yes, I do feel pressure but a movie is not based on a person... at least, that's the way I see it.
I didn't shoot the film, I didn't act with myself, there are other actors and we all work together. So I don't see myself different from anybody else in the film.
Tanuj (Virvani) is the central character in the film, and he has done an amazing job.
How have you evolved as an actress?
I think if you see my first film and then this one, there's a world of difference.
I have learnt so much over the last five years -- so much about myself, the industry, the camera, the lighting, how to make your mark, how to deal with different situations... it's all been a learning process.
You have always taken criticism very sportingly.
People are always going to criticise you and try and bring you down but you have to rise above the hatred to have peace of mind.
It's quite sad because when people say mean things about you, they usually reflect their own life by judging you.
I am happy with my life and with who I am. I have a great family, friends and support system. Everything that happens, happens for a reason and we have to learn from these things.
Do you hang out with people from the industry?
Not really. Recently, I have been getting invited to different places but I don't think actors and entertainers make great friends.
We're all busy, we're all working. Some may be doing more work than the others but all of us have our own world in which we live in.
I have a lot of acquaintances, and I think they're amazing people but to establish those friendships, you need time.
Your songs always become a hit with the audience. What do you think makes the audience connect with them?
T-Series have given me such amazing music for my films over the years! I am so happy that they trust me enough to give me good songs. I feel fortunate.
You are doing a song in Raees with Shah Rukh Khan. Tell us about that.
'Did they call *me*? Or were they supposed to call Sunny Deol? Are you sure it's me that they want?' I was in shock! I was wondering if they misdialled.
Then, I was so excited that I could not believe it was happening.
I didn't believe it until halfway through rehearsals. They taught me all the steps and we did a fitting for the costumes, so I felt they couldn't say 'no' now, they had to use me.
I am so thankful to Shah Rukh Khan for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something in his life.
You had the entire industry stand by your side because of an interview you did. How did that make you feel?
Something good came out of that really awkward and unpleasant situation. That took me a long time to understand and accept.
I just could not wrap my head around what happened (in the interview) and then all of a sudden, everybody was showing so much support. I was really surprised and happy to see the support.
First, it was my fans and then my social media was blowing up with all that support. Then, Bollywood celebrities, journalists, news channels from abroad, so many different people were showing so much support. I was shocked.
I think they felt how I was feeling sitting there (during the interview), maybe they understood or went through a similar situation but I don't think any actor or entertainer should have to go through something like that.
How tough is it to maintain your figure?
My trainer Prashant Sawant has transformed a lot of different areas on my body that I thought were in great shape. I work out all the time and then he told me that you're not in shape but I'll get you there.
I told him about my insecurities about my body and told him about the things I wanted to fix and we have been working on that. If you have to eat healthy and take care of your body, it will show on screen.
I am okay with being curvy. I like curves on women, I think it's beautiful.
You don't have to be a size zero to be attractive on screen. It's about owning who you are and your body and embracing it.
I love pizza, chocolate souffle, butter cake, ice-cream, aloo ke paranthe... I love a lot of things and want to eat but certain times you have to control, that's it. It doesn't mean you cannot have them, it just means that you should control for a little bit. If you're not suffering, you're not dieting.
I am working out really hard now because I am starting a new television show and I want to look good on it.
Tell us about that TV show.
I am shooting Splitsvilla again. I love shooting for this show because it's a great break from the monotony of my life.
I get to get involved with young contestants who come on the show and get sucked into their world and their drama and forget about my own drama!
It's fun to watch their transformation on the show, who they turn out to be towards the end (of the show), which is a lot stronger.
What other projects are you working on?
There's another film that will release this year.
It has a lot of twist and turns. It's about the idea that if a man can do something, why can't a woman? Why are stipulations put on a woman's life just because of her gender?
This is not an India thing, this double standards exist worldwide.
Your husband Daniel Weber is a very important part of your life. Do you think you would have been as comfortable as you are now without him by your side?
If he wasn't a part of my life, I wouldn't have been sitting here. I would have never taken that chance.
I don't think I would have said yes to Bigg Boss.
My first reaction was no but he told me to go for it and be a part of it. He has been that pillar of support and making me move forward -- not pushing me but encouraging me to try something different.
He allows me and my entire team the ability to work throughout the year, over 300 days in a year.
He is the reason we work and are successful and make a good living for our families.
Do you like sports?
I like surfing, and riding horses.
I grew up playing a lot of sports -- I used to play soccer, basketball, go figure skating...
I like hiking. If I get a chance, my husband and I run half marathons. We like staying fit.
