Tuesday, December 16, 2025
ADVT 
Bollywood

Interested In More Eyeballs Than Box Office Collections: Akshay Kumar

IANS, 28 Jul, 2017 08:33 PM
  • Interested In More Eyeballs Than Box Office Collections: Akshay Kumar
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar says he is interested in reaching out to a greater number of people with his upcoming film "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" than on garnering box office business.
 
He says the distributor has applied for tax exemption for the film.
 
During the trailer launch of the film here on Thursday, when asked that after "Rustom" and "Airlift" crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office, whether he was looking forward to minting more moolah, Akshay said: "I am interested in more eyeballs than the box office collection.
 
"In fact, I wish the ticket price of this film to be low so that more people can go and watch the film. Around 54 per cent people in our country have no access to toilets. So, my concern is to make people aware of the issue. They should go and watch the film rather than (we) count on the box office collection."
 
Asked about if they will make the film tax free, Akshay said: "So far there is no confirmation, but yes, the Viacom18 people (the distributors of the film) applied for tax exemption. Let's see what happens."
 
 
"Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" which stresses on the importance of sanitation.
 
Once known as Bollywood's action star, Akshay has of late moved into movies with social relevance. But he says he doesn't believe in having any image.
 
"I don't want to have any kind of image. I just want to keep on trying everything. When I entered the industry, people called me an action hero. 
 
"Then, I tried other things, they called me comedian and romantic hero. Then I did villain roles, now people are saying that I am doing social films. I just don't want to have an image.
 
"I just want to keep on trying different things," said Akshay, who received a National Award for his performance in "Rustom".
 
Akshay also pointed out that though his film "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" is set in the rural milieu, it is more relevant for the urban crowd than rural people.
 
 
"The issue of open defecation is not just a rural (village) problem. It is a huge problem in big cities too and it is more dangerous in big cities rather than villages, because we live in a concrete jungle, so germs and bacteria spread faster here.
 
"Don't think for a moment that this movie is for villages. It is for urban people too because we are in more danger than them."
 
The film also stars Bhumi Pednekar and Anupam Kher. It is releasing on August 11.

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

Spending Days With Kargil Warriors Was Life Changing: Kailash Kher

Singer-composer Kailash Kher says he had a life-changing experience when he spent a few days with the soldiers from Kargil.

Spending Days With Kargil Warriors Was Life Changing: Kailash Kher

Anurag Kashyap's Mukkabaaz, Two Other Indian Films To Premiere At Toronto

Anurag Kashyap's Mukkabaaz, Two Other Indian Films To Premiere At Toronto
As part of the Special Presentations 2017, "Mukkabaaz" (The Brawler) will have its World Premiere as also "The Hungry" by Bornila Chatterjee.

Anurag Kashyap's Mukkabaaz, Two Other Indian Films To Premiere At Toronto

Sunny Leone's 'Chance To Dance' On Broadway Jazz

Actress Sunny Leone says she is excited to perform at an awards event which will feature her dancing in Broadway jazz-style for the first time.

Sunny Leone's 'Chance To Dance' On Broadway Jazz

Rejection Paves Way For My Next: Anurag Basu On 'Jagga Jasoos'

Rejection Paves Way For My Next: Anurag Basu On 'Jagga Jasoos'
Filmmaker Anurag Basu, whose latest movie "Jagga Jasoos" has not fared as expected, has sent out "hugs" to the detractors as he says rejection doesn't mean dejection for him.

Rejection Paves Way For My Next: Anurag Basu On 'Jagga Jasoos'

Too Young In The Industry To Stick To A Particular Genre: Athiya Shetty

Too Young In The Industry To Stick To A Particular Genre: Athiya Shetty
Athiya is in the capital to be the showstopper for designers Shyamal and Bhumika's maiden show at India Couture Week (ICW) 2017, here on Wednesday night.

Too Young In The Industry To Stick To A Particular Genre: Athiya Shetty

Actress Charmme Kaur Grilled By Sit For Six Hours In Drug Case

Actress Charmme Kaur Grilled By Sit For Six Hours In Drug Case
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Telangana's Excise Department, probing the Hyderabad drug racket, grilled actress Charmme Kaur for over six hours on Wednesday.

Actress Charmme Kaur Grilled By Sit For Six Hours In Drug Case