In Pictures: Sunny Leone’s career, from adult film industry to Bollywood

‘Mastizaade’

The year 2016 started with Sunny featuring in two adult-comedy films, 'Mastizaade' and 'Kya Kool Hai Hum 3'. Both the films released with a gap of just one week, but were sheer disappointment.

‘Ek Paheli Leela’

In 2015, Sunny actually got an opportunity to showcase her acting talent in the film 'Ek Paheli Leela'. Though the film failed to mint money at the box-office, Sunny gathered accolades from the critics.

‘Ragini MMS 2’

Later, Sunny Leone associated with Ekta Kapoor and featured in the erotic thriller 'Ragini MMS 2'. It was high on sensual content, but even that couldn't save the film from the failure. It was the biggest blunder of 2014.

No ‘Jackpot’!

Post her performance in 'Jism 2', Sunny was seen in a film called 'Jackpot' with Naseeruddin Shah and Sachiin Joshi. The film was a disappointment and tanked at the box-office.

The American Cancer Society

In 2010, Sunny Leone’s father died of cancer. She was deeply affected by this unfortunate incident. Sunny Leone, along with Monique Alexander and Keni Styles, ran in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half-Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The Bollywood journey

Sunny Leone has appeared in many music videos after her debut release ‘Jism 2’ and the most popular among the rest was the famous item song ‘Baby doll main sone di’.

‘Jism 2’

Sunny’s first mainstream appearance was in 2005, when she was a red carpet reporter for the MTV Awards on MTV India. She gained her stardom after her debut movie ‘Jism 2’ was released for which she was approached during her stay at the 'Bigg Boss' house.

‘Bigg Boss’

In 2011, she participated in the cult reality show on Indian television, 'Bigg Boss', entering the house on day 49. Sunny Leone’s popularity reached a whole new level with her Twitter account gaining 8000 new followers, and when Mahest Bhatt entered the 'Bigg Boss' house to have a chat with her, it was a done deal that she will be booming in Bollywood. Sunny also believes that about 60% of her fans are from South Asia.

The red carpet reporter

Not many know that in the year 2005, Sunny had been a red carpet reporter for MTV awards. This act of her didn't call for much attention and then she went on to do 'Bigg Boss'.

When she met Daniel Weber

Sunny Leone, the bold and beautiful, discovered her bisexuality at the age of 18 and dated quite a few women before tying the knot with Daniel Weber, whom she met during her final release under contract with Vivid – “Undress Me”, where Weber was the only male actor.

Entry in adult film industry

While studying to be a pediatric nurse in Orange County, a classmate who was an exotic dancer, introduced Leone to John Stevens, an agent who in turn introduced her to Jay Allen, a photographer for Penthouse magazine. In 2003, she was named 'Penthouse Pet of the Year' and starred in the video Penthouse Pets. In 2005, Sunny Leone signed a three-year contract with Vivid Entertainment with which she transitioned into the world of hardcore pornography, stating that she would only do lesbian scenes.

Early career

Before becoming an adult entertainer, she has worked at a German bakery, Jiffy Lube, and later at a tax and retirement firm.

Education

Sunny Leone went to a catholic school and during her school days, she was interested in athletics and played street hockey, basketball and soccer.

Early Life

Sunny Leone was born in Sarnia, Ontario to Sikh Punjabi parents. Her father was born in Tibet and raised in Delhi, while her mother (who died in 2008) was from Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh. Her real name is Karenjit Kaur Vohra, and Sunny Leone is her stage name.