What does being in Kolkata mean to you? Have you ever had the opportunity to go around and experience the city?
Kolkata is a very special place, just like most places in India. I love it. I don’t get a chance to see the city as much as I would love to because usually I am working.
What does one need to keep in mind to have as strong a marriage as you and Daniel do?
I don’t know, I am still trying to figure it out, but I think that trust and communication are really big points, and also being really patient because sometimes things are not great. Most of the time they are great, and everything is wonderful, but when they are not, the aforementioned things are a must have. And one of the things that I have learnt is that I have to pick and choose my battles. If you don’t do that, you nitpick over the little things. It’s very hard to discuss large issues when you are at each other’s throats over little silly, stupid things. So learn to let go of small things.
It’s been a little bit more than a decade since you burst into the Indian scene with Bigg Boss. Since then you have had successes in films, TV, as a writer.... How would you summarise this journey and which do you feel have been the turning points for you?
My journey since I came to India to work on the Bigg Boss show has been absolutely amazing. I have done everything... from films, TV shows, music, videos, appearances, so many different things, all the way across the board to starting my family here and owning my own businesses. It is really such a big thing for me, my family and our businesses. Highlights that I like to think are amazing in my life are when we started our own fragrance line and cosmetic line, Starstruck.
Is the criteria on which you base your choices to do a project or not different from what it was five-seven years ago?
My criteria are very different now because if we don’t grow and evolve, then we’re still doing the same thing that we did five years ago or seven years ago. That makes our image and workflow repetitive and redundant. And I don’t think that that’s evolving and growing. So fortunately, I have been able to choose some projects that I really like and that I enjoyed working on, as time went on and hopefully people continued to like me for the same.
What’s the key to balancing home and motherhood and a successful career as well as you do?
A lot of good scheduling, because I really want to spend time with my children and be with them as much as I can. And sometimes it’s difficult and at other times it’s not. And I think I am able to balance it really well. I miss my children more than they miss me. We have done such a good job between Daniel and me. We have given them such a great life and great schedule. They are always busy. They’re a part of school activities, extracurricular activities. They have a great school. They go there and are around awesome people. So, I think when I leave, I miss them more than they miss me. I have separation anxiety when I am not with them.
What for you is the best thing about being Sunny Leone and the worst thing, if any, about being Sunny Leone?
The best thing is my entire world and life. I am so happy with everything and how it has turned out and my family and my home and being able to be here in India. I never want to be anywhere else.
And the worst would be thinking that it might just disappear tomorrow. I know that’s very dramatic, but I think most celebrities think about what if it all goes away? You know, then what? But luckily, I have been able to open some businesses as a backup, and they’ve been doing pretty well. So, thank God for that and now I can only focus on the positive.