Bollywood actress Sunny Leone praised after awkward interview about adult entertainer past

Bollywood actress Sunny Leone has been praised for the dignified way she handled an interviewer who appeared to blame her for India’s surge in viewing pornography.

Leone, 34, was interviewed by Bhupendra Chaubey for his CNN-IBN's talk show, The Hot Seat when questions turned to her previous career as an adult entertainer.

Chaubey asked if Leone had any “regrets” – which appeared to be a cue for the actress to apologise for her career.

Leone said not reaching her mother in time before she died was her biggest regret, but Chaubey continued: “Do you not sometimes get affected by the fact that your past, your past that you were this 'porn queen', will continue to haunt you? Or maybe continue to pull you back?”

The veteran journalist also appeared to blame Leone for the increasing number of people watching porn in India.

He asked: "In the last four years, according to statistics which have been put up by Porn Hub, since you have come into the national mainstream cinema, the number of people watching porn in India have also, in a proportionate manner, increased substantially to a degree that we are the largest consumer of porn.

"Is there any correlation?"

He went on to address the fears of some people who believe they could be corrupted simply by watching Leone in a film.

"I am thinking am I being morally corrupted if I am interviewing you?" he asked.

Leone replied: "I can leave if you want me to."

Following the 20 minute interview, Leone has been inundated with support, and a video she posted thanking her fans has been viewed over 800,000 times in less than 24 hours.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan – who Chaubey said would not work with Leone because of her previous career – also tweeted his support for the actress: “I think Sunny conductd herself wid a lot of grace & dignity.I wish I cud hav said the same abt the interviewer (1/2)

“Sunny,I wil b happy 2 wrk wid u.I hav absolutely no problems wid ur "past", as the interviewer puts it.Stay http://blessed.Love .a.2/2.”

Leone rose to fame after starring on Big Boss – India’s version of Big Brother. She is married to film producer Daniel Weber.