This is an archive article published on April 4, 2024
Splitsvilla X5 host Sunny Leone on still battling judgments: ‘Judging in a negative way does affect me’
Sunny Leone recently spoke about her 9-year-long association with MTV Splitsvilla in an exclsuive interview, during the conversation she even opened up about facing judgements from people and getting affected by it.
Actress Sunny Leone has returned to the small screen with an all-new season of MTV Spiltsvilla X5: Exsqueeze me, please! While this is her ninth year as a host on the show, this time she has been joined by Tanuj Virwani too. The new season premiered last weekend, and ahead of it, Sunny Leone spoke to Indianexpress.com about her nine-year-long association with the dating reality show. She even spoke about co-host Tanuj Virwani joining her and how Uorfi Javed is going to spice things up. But most importantly, Sunny opened up about still facing judgments and how they continue to affect her.
Talking about the all-new season of the Splitsvilla X5, Sunny Leone shared, “I have grown up watching MTV, I always wanted to be on the channel because according to me all cool people were there, so 9 years back when they approached me it was easy to say yes. Splitsvilla is a little world in itself where contestants are pushed mentally, emotionally, and physically which is interesting to watch. As a host we watch everything that happens in front of us, so we see the wheels turning in their brains, and their emotional status, and getting emotionally attached is very easy. But it is also very perspective-based, we just try to stir them in the right way. This season, the idea of casual love is tapped into in a big way. They all act a certain way, but they want the same thing.”
She also added, “Even though these young people say they don’t want labels or be tied down, at the end of the day, love is still love. You are attracted to who you are attracted to, you find certain people amazing, and those emotions are still very real, no matter the generation. In the GenZ dating environment, you put as many labels, but a girl still wants to be treated with respect. Even guys want love and care just as much as the woman.”
On having her One Night Stand co-star Tanuj Virwani join her as a co-host Sunny Leone said, “Tanuj and I have worked together in a film earlier, but that time we didn’t get to know each other because we were focusing on the characters. Right now, Tanuj is completely immersed in the show. It was really exciting to watch Tanuj’s outlook on how reality shows work. He also got emotionally attached to a lot of people.”
Talking about having Uorfi Javed as the ‘Mischief Maker’ on the show once again, Sunny added, “Uorfi is turning the scenario completely upside down this season. She is so good, her attitude toward life is so much fun to watch.” During the conversation Sunny was asked how she manages to deal with 20-year-olds on the show and try to make them listen, the actress said, “Every person in their early 20s doesn’t listen, no matter what generation we are. None of us did, so it’s not fair to just say this generation doesn’t listen. As young people, we make these dumb choices in life, or we make choices that hurt somebody and we don’t realize it until later.”
When asked if being judged by people still bothers her, Sunny responds, “I am human, so of course people judging in a negative way does affect me. But I think the ever big wall and people in front of me protect me and keep my emotional state always happy. I am in a really good place emotionally with my family and career, and all the people around me. I feel really lucky right now.”
She also adds, “I am happy in the space I am in, I think I have had so many amazing things that have happened and so many that are happening. I love my life and career, of course, that person inside me wants more and more, but you have to take things as they come and see what happens in life.”
Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.
Experience & Career
Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:
The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.
Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:
Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.
OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.
Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.
Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.
Authoritativeness & Trust
With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More
Sunny Leone on still facing judgements in the industry (Photo: Sunny Leone / Instagram)