'If we could get through this year, future hurdles, traumas and tragedies will be easy to face.'
As the year comes to an end, Sunny Leone pauses to look back at it.
She tells Subhash K Jha, "I believe He chooses when we live and when we die, when we flounder and when we thrive."
How do you look back at the year?
I think people of my generation will never forget this year.
People were struggling financially and emotionally throughout, they still are.
We don't know what lies ahead.
Emotions were heightened as people were locked down together.
We don't know what the world will be like once things get back to normal.
2020 was one of the most difficult years for anyone.
What is you takeaway from this year?
Ah...I am not really sure. I guess it is the art of survival.
If we could get through this year, future hurdles, traumas and tragedies will be easy to face.
Emotionally and financially, no year could be more challenging than this.
The small businesses are especially vulnerable. Let's pray for their survival.
The OTT platform has changed the profile of the Hindi film audience. What is your take on cinema versus the digital platform?
I don't think cinema is going to be the same again.
The digital platform has made sure of that.
We have restructured and acclimatised our brains and lives to watch content digitally, and we enjoy it that way.
I've no idea what will happen to the movie theatres. I hope they get back on their feet.
But I don't think movie theatres will ever be the same.
What films did you watch this year?
I consumed a lot of digital shows.
I didn't watch too many films, actually.
I was in the US most of the time, so I watched a lot of American shows.
I am watching Netflix's Queen Of The South.
Irrfan, Rishi Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput... your thoughts on their abrupt departure?
Yes, so many valuable lives lost.
I think there's one force that decides life and death.
I believe in God.
I believe He chooses when we live and when we die, when we flounder and when we thrive.
I didn't know these great actors personally, so I cannot feel for them the way their friends and family can.
I hope they are at peace wherever they are.
There were some ugly run-ins on the social media which you handled well. What is your take on the toxicity on social media?
Toxicity on social medium is here to stay.
I had never seen such a large community of haters before.
During this lockdown, yes, I had some run-ins that were not nice.
A lot of people from the entertainment industry had to face more negativity than me.
I got a lot of hatred when I first came to Bollywood.
With time, I pushed passed it.
What is your advice to those traumatised by trolls?
My advice is to push pass the hatred.
Don't stop what you are doing.
Keep posting fun things about who you are and what you love to do.
Don't read the comments.
The haters will find another target, so don't let it get to you.
Some of us have opted out of social media. My advice to them is, come back, guys.
I want to see your pictures of the fun things that you do.
Don't let the .05 percent of haters spoil the fun.
Your plans for 2021?
My plan is to work my butt off and make up for lost time.
To make up for lost opportunities.
I do have a job and I like it.
I like making money from it, just like you do.
I hope to get back to work in 2021.
I hope to spend as much time as possible with my family.
I have severe anxiety bouts about being separated from them.
