To all my well-wishers, and I would like to believe there are some here, there has been a great deal of conversation which has gone on about me on social media. Most of it JUDGEMENTAL about me.
Fair enough, If I ask questions out of others, I must be prepared to answer questions as well. I must point out that while I am accustomed to criticism, the kind of words being used to describe me post my interview with Sunny Leone do leave me a bit perplexed.
On a day when a Dalit students suicide in a premier Indian University, allegedly due harassment by the University officials, is the most significant story, I would have thought my time line would also reflect it. But that hasn’t been the case – I have been called misogynist, sexist, male chauvinistic, moralistic, and a lot of other words that I shall not put down here.
In my career I have interviewed all people in varying professions - politicians, cricketers, corporate tycoons, film stars, bureaucrats, officers of the State. When I have asked them questions that haven’t been to their liking, I have often being accused of having a bias against them. That is the nature of the medium. Its all right. But through the day, my timeline has been abuzz with my friends from the film fraternity and others accusing me of being hostile to Sunny. I am an interviewer, I am a journalist, I have a television format.
My interview was in the backdrop of India having become the top most consumer of porn and that the issues of censorship that are being debated today. An adult comedy being released without any cuts and several other films being given censorship certificates after several cuts having been imposed.
After the interview, Sunny herself called me, as did her team. They were keen that I should remove any question that may have an impact on the films release. They were worried that it may lead to a flurry of PILs. Almost every question I raised was based on a perception or fact that was out in public domain.
Perhaps in hindsight I could have framed a few questions differently. But as they say, hindsight is a great gift. I most certainly wasn't there to offend her. I most certainly wasn't trying to create some controversy. There was and there is a lot of curiosity about Sunny Leone. My interview was purely done from that capacity. I raised questions about her past because that’s where the story is.
I myself am a husband and a father of a daughter. For me to be dubbed as a misogynistic and sexist person on the basis of this interview is wholly unfair. Still, if anyone has felt offended, certainly wasn't my intention to be unkind.
May the spirit of curiosity keep the fire of journalism blazing.
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