My Friend Is A Porn Star.

Last month when my friend Liva, who works for a foreign based porn company came down to India (wait. don't waste time Google'ing her name. She is known by a different screen name in the industry), we met at a friends party and dined together. There, I introduced her to few of my close male friends and they were all drooling behind her since then. 

Few years back when Liva entered the industry, except for her fiancé, rest of her family and friends were completely uninformed. It was few days before her first movie release, she gave me a call and screamed out in excitement:

"Hei ! Guess what? I did it. I'm what I wanted to be. A porn star” I froze. She continued. “3 months of real hard work and finally it's complete and ready for release.”
By then I had regained my senses and I realized that this is in fact real and happening.

“Hey nut-case, speak up. You too shocked like my dad and mom? ”

“Whaaaat? You told your parents too?” I blurted out in surprise.

“Well ya, I did. I went home yesterday. We sat together at coffee.”

“And they still let you inside home?”

“Yea. Why would they keep me out. I only chose a profession. That doesn't change me as an individual.”

“This is strange. So they told you can go do it again?”

“ Sort of. Dad was shocked and mom almost fainted when I made it clear to them. After the initial splatter, I could convince them that this is what I wanted to do in life and I'm happy. And then they were Ok with it by dinner. It's all my happiness that they care for.”

There was nothing more I had to ask. I congratulated her, still not sure if she was right or wrong with her decision. Living in a country where we can't even think of such a career, I'm in no position to question her for choosing a legal career in a country that promote porn industry. And if I did, it will be like telling Nigella Lawson, the queen of food porn, not to host the show because it's bad to eat fatty food in my country.

Two weeks later, I got a courier delivered at my door. It was form Liva. The accompanying note read, “The grand release is due next week. Mailing you a pre-release copy of my movie. Do let me know what you think.” That CD is still in my drawer, seal unopened. Not that I don't like porn. It's just that I somehow can't convince myself at watching her in it and I don't think I ever will be able to. She knows it too.

From Liva's excitement, the mail and our subsequent meetings, one thing I could make out for sure: She likes being a porn star. Apart from the fortune she earns, she is happy, her family and fiancé have accepted her as a one. So there is no reason why I should advise her against it. As long as she perceives it as an achievement, I too will and I'm happy for her. After all it's her life and she has every right to live it her way.

Coming back to the party, there is this cranky guy amongst us, whom we call Pappu, who can ask any question to any person at any odd time. And with Liva, he went straight to the point.

“ How much do you take for one shot?”
“ 75K US dollars, how much ever that is converted to Indian rupees.” She replied (thinking he wanted to know her remuneration per movie)
Pappu pulled out a pen & started to calculate on a tissue paper. Counting the number of zeros from right to left, he let out his desperation: “Oh! I cant even think of it.”

He slowly left our table and never returned back. Later that evening, I over-heard him speak to himself, “I must either control my wild desires or I must change my career. Can't even earn enough in 5 years to afford her for a night. Oh God, please let the dollar value fall.”

It was obvious that not just Pappu, but each and every one there who knew Liva's profession was trying their best for a chance to dip their fork into her plate. Though there were times that I felt uncomfortable when a few crossed the limit with their words, she eased me by laughing at the dirty sarcasm. She tried to give the amount of respect they were due though in reality, they didn't diverse any.

But why? Why did they think she would sleep with them for money in the first place?  When she had the courtesy to respect all men present there why couldn't they do it too? My friend is neither a commodity for sale nor a prostitute, but a lady who pursued her dreams. She definitely deserved a better treatment.