Throughout the mid-2010s, Leone became the go-to actress for "special appearances" and item numbers—dance sequences inserted into films purely for mass appeal. However, her actual acting filmography shows an attempt to break out of this box. Films like Ek Paheli Leela (2015) and Mastizaade (2016) leaned heavily into her established glamorous avatar, but she also began seeking roles that required more than just screen presence.

Since her Bollywood debut in 2012, Sunny Leone has starred in various genres, ranging from erotic thrillers to horror and comedy. Ek Paheli Leela

(2016): An adult comedy where she played twin sisters, Laila and Lily Lele.