A lot has been said about what porn stars do when their life in the adult industry is over. There are even inspiring documentaries that reflect these life choices. After all, certain jobs with even the mildest conservative mindset won’t take too kindly to the fact that a former pornographic actor or actress is now perfectly integrated into their world.

Some former porn stars just focus on business; others try to lead a normal family life. And then there are others who — especially if they’re of Indian heritage — try their hand at a successful career as a Bollywood star.

Ladies and gentlemen, cue Sunny Leone.

The legendary Indo-Canadian porn star is no stranger to public accolades. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003, won several AVN Awards and for years she was a contract star for Vivid Entertainment.

Leone – whose real name is Karenjit Kaur Vohra – has been living in India since 2012 where she’s found unprecedented (for an adult actress) success in Bollywood movies. In 2014 she was actually the most Googled person in India.

Of course, not everyone’s equally keen on the open arms reception of porn stars in Bollywood. Her Hindi film debut in Jism 2 (by the way, we know that title sounds like it could be porn, but it’s really not!), although a hit, was met with protests and burnt posters. Last month, coinciding with the premiere of her latest film Ek Paheli Leela, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi caused some Twitter commotion by suggesting they should make sure “western rejects like sunny leone are not allowed to epitomise indian culture or acquire the status of a bollywood icon.”

Haters – as is well established all around the world – are going to hate. Popular Indian culture remains a very interesting meeting point of sexual prudeness and tolerance. On the one hand, it’s a very traditional place, where being a porn performer is not exactly socially encouraged by many. On the other hand, many of their traditions have a sexual aura to them, and their preference for the suggestive is present in a lot of their artistic expressions.

Leone was voted 2014’s Most Desirable Woman on an online poll by The Times of India; a title that shows that in spite of the conservative backlash, she has all the staying power she needs.

“It’s such a huge honor to be winning this,” Leone told the Times of India. “A couple of people don’t want me to be here and want me to pack my bags and leave. Winning this title is a reassurance of the fact that I am not going anywhere and I don’t want to. I love Bollywood and want to be here.”

Judging by popularity, Sunny, Bollywood feels nothing but reciprocity.