Not so sunny in city for Sunny Leone

Sunny Leone did not find Ahmedabad sunny enough during her visit to the city on Saturday for promoting the second season of her biopic.

Reason? The Bollywood actor and her entourage did not get priority security check at the airport on their way back to Mumbai from Ahmedabad. An airport source said she had a showdown with officials when her bodyguards did not get priority at the security check.

Fearing that she would be mobbed, she insisted with the airport officials that her bodyguards be allowed to jump the queue. “She had an argument with the officials over the issue and seemed to be throwing a tantrum,” the source said.

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Sunny was so upset after her experience at the city airport that she took to the microblogging site and tweeted, “Beyond disappointed in the Ahmedabad Airport.” Later, in another post, she wrote, “Well, there were many things, but I did expect the airport people to help and I guess that’s my bad. Next time I don’t think I’ll fly though this airport without confirmation that the airport security will have compassion for those who need it.”

Her team should have planned properly and ensured her bodyguards checked in beforehand. Jumping a long queue of passengers is not appropriate or allowed."

He added, "Other passengers also objected to her request. Later, after her insistence, we allowed one of her bodyguards to get priority security check so that he could accompany her."

An airline official, on condition of anonymity, said, "She and her team came just before the gates closed. One of our executives escorted and got her through security check. However, security officials did not allow her bodyguards. Later, one of her bodyguards was allowed to clear security by jumping the queue. Airlines have no major role to play when it comes to security and frisking of passengers."

Sunny's team speaks out

Hitendra Kapopara, her costume designer who is also an Amdavadi, said the experience at the Ahmedabad airport was disappointing. "We have been to so many cities across the country, be it Lucknow or Kolkata. We never experienced any problems or issues," said Kapopara, adding that the whole experience was frenzied.

"We were late to reach the airport and there were chances of us missing the flight, bahut public thi airport ke baahar

(there were so many people outside the airport). We expected airport authorities to help us, but they did not. We didn't receive support," he added.

On inquiring if Sunny created a ruckus at the airport, Kapopara revealed, "No, Sunny is a simple, gentle human being. She would never create a scene, leave alone scream or shout at anyone. She is someone who always abides by rules and regulations and is extremely particular about it. She respects authorities.

Bas woh thoda darr gayi thi (she just feared for her safety) because of the crowd." Kapopara also said that the airlines provided no help either. "This has never happened in any other city. But the airline did not help us at all."

Another member of Sunny's team told Mirror, "There were 50-100 people at the airport hounding and touching Sunny for selfies and photographs. Had she passed the security check alone, she would have been forced to be without a single bodyguard on the other side. Had anything gone wrong, who would have taken the responsibility?"

The person further said they only requested the airport authority to provide security for the actress, since her personal security would take time to get through. "It was a request," he said, adding "We only requested that her bouncers are let through, not her whole team. And the rest of us stood through the normal procedure. We were only concerned about Sunny's safety." Sources said the issue got resolved after 15-20 minutes when airport officials allowed one of her bodyguards through.

‘Not airport’s fault, she should’ve planned better’
Confirming the incident, Airport Director-in-charge Rajeev Mehta said, “Sunny Leone is not on the VIP list of passengers issued by the Home Ministry. Having said that, our security officials would not have stood mute had the situation gone out of hand regarding her personal security and safety.