I thought they dialled a wrong number: Sunny Leone on how Shah Rukh Khan's Raees song fell in place

Since her entry into Bollywood, there have been several reservations in the industry about Sunny Leone. Many actors decided to step out of films starring her, fearing they might get typecast. 

In all her previous interviews, Sunny has spoken about how the only thing she longed for was acceptance from the Indian audience. She called the league of A-listers the ‘Disneyland’ zone of B-Town. Today, she’s literally made her foray into that zone. Shah Rukh Khan has just given her, her first breakthrough song, opposite him — something Sunny always waited for.

In a candid chat, Sunny opens up about how building rapport with the big guns of Bollywood has helped her change a lot of perceptions…

The last time we spoke, you called the A-List zone, the Disneyland in Bollywood…

(Excitedly cuts in) And I finally got the ticket to the front gate of Disneyland. Woohoo! (Laughs) Just before we shot the song for Raees, I told my entire team, ‘Listen, we’ve got the ticket. So now, everyone be on your best behaviour.’ (Laughs) Because you only get the ticket once.

You’re finally getting a big break. How did the Raees song fall in place?

I actually got a call from Excel. Actually, not me, but Daniel (Weber, her husband) did. We were sitting in my car and after he kept the call, Daniel was like, ‘Oh my God!’ I knew it wasn’t something bad because he has his tone and I have known him for so long, so I know. He got off and finally told me. I was in shock. I thought they must have dialled a wrong number. I asked him if they really did call for Sunny Leone and not someone else! I was just in disbelief. I didn’t actually believe it until I was halfway through my rehearsals. I was like, ‘They can’t change it now’ (Smiles). They had taught me all the steps and we were doing costume fittings. So it was definitely happening.

So you shot all the days with SRK?

Yes, he came on the sets every day.

What was your first meeting with him on Raees sets like?

He mentioned that he thought of me when he planned to do the song. He also explained how it all came about. So in my head, I felt like telling him, ‘Why did you wait this long? Why didn’t you just give me a call the exact moment you thought of me? At least, I could have lived the last six months in happiness’. That’s what I wanted to say (Smiles) But I controlled myself very much. I had built up this moment in my head for so long. From the second I got the phone call to the second I was on set, I felt that I can do anything right that day. 

I was dying inside. And in my first meeting with him, I looked like a mushroom top-head. My hair was like pulled up with all these weird things and I walked outside where we were shooting and he was talking to the director.

That’s when we spoke a bit. And then I walked into the van, saw myself and I told myself, “Really Sunny? That’s what you look like. You just met Shah Rukh Khan and you look like a freak.” I was so embarrassed. And this happens to me all the time I meet any famous personality. I either trip over myself or I look like an idiot. Yesterday, I met Anupam Kher on the plane and I didn’t know he was there. He came up to me and tapped me. I was playing on my phone and when he said ‘Hi’, I tried to get up and I got stuck (laughs out loud). I was like ‘Oh my God, I am such an un-cool person.’ I have lots of those moments.

How was it working with SRK?

It was amazing (smiles excitedly). The first day, I was like a nervous wreck. The second day, I was fine. When I am around people who I don’t know and am meeting for the first time or specially the people who intimidate me or I look up to, I am in emotional mess the first day. The first shot that we gave for the song, I went and saw it and I got extremely emotional. I went up to Shah Rukh and thanked him for getting me on board. I think I probably said thank you one million times and he probably must have felt that was annoying. But I didn’t know what else to say.

Kriti and Alia said they were scared of going wrong and making SRK give retakes. Did you have the same feeling?

I felt bad dancing over and over again. There was one dance move that we had to do multiple times because that was really difficult. When you see it on TV, you might think it’s easy, but it’s not. It’s not like rehearsing the lines, these were dance moves. Sometimes, you don’t have any control over your body. Your face does something, your body does something else. My lower half and my upper half don’t have any relationship. They simply hate each other (laughs) They don’t know how to work together. My face is another story. I am always afraid.

What was the maximum number of retakes you guys gave?

I think it was nine. Possibly, something like that although I am not sure of the exact number.

Now, you have a great equation with all the Khans. Are things falling in place for you the way you always wanted it to be?

I think things are definitely interesting the way it’s going on. I want to think that I am an okay person in life with good intentions and try and have a good heart. Good things are finally happening and I feel very lucky and fortunate. I can’t thank Shah Rukh enough for taking a chance, for giving me the opportunity to do something so amazing. Even if he asked to be in a passing background shot, I would just say yes without thinking about it. For me, it’s a really surreal feeling. Aamir too called me and invited my husband and me to his home. I met Kiran and she is an amazing woman and they were such amazing hosts. I just feel blessed and hope that it kinda continues.

Finally, do you feel that working with SRK will also bring in a shift in the reservations that many actors have about working with you?

I think that it definitely helps. When someone of that level acknowledges you in whatever way they can, it’s the best thing. Not only for the people in the industry as far as actors and actresses go, but also different directors and producers won’t have the same reservation about coming up and saying hi to me. In that way, it makes a huge difference. Actually, it’s already made a huge difference.