Wednesday, July 1, 2026
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

Singing With Priyanka Will Be Wonderful: Parineeti Chopra

opportunity to sing with her cousin and actress Priyanka Chopra.   Priyanka has earlier crooned foot tapping numbers like “In My City” ft. will.i.am, “Exotic” ft. Pitbull, and even the title track of "Dil Dhadakne Do"

Singing With Priyanka Will Be Wonderful: Parineeti Chopra

Amitabh Praises Emraan Hashmi For Being 'Brave Father'

Amitabh Praises Emraan Hashmi For Being 'Brave Father'
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has praised Emraan Hashmi, whose son Ayaan was suffering cancer, for being a "brave father".

Amitabh Praises Emraan Hashmi For Being 'Brave Father'

Varun Dhawan To Lend Voice To Hindi Version Of 'Captain America'

Varun Dhawan To Lend Voice To Hindi Version Of 'Captain America'
Actor Varun Dhawan will lend his voice for Steve Rogers aka Captain America in the Hindi version of "Captain America: Civil War".

Varun Dhawan To Lend Voice To Hindi Version Of 'Captain America'

Only Working On 'Half Girlfriend' Right Now: Arjun Kapoor

Actor Arjun Kapoor, who was speculated to be in the sequel of the science fiction superhero film “Mr. India”, says the only film he is a part of right now is “Half Girlfriend”.

Only Working On 'Half Girlfriend' Right Now: Arjun Kapoor

Sanjay Dutt Hasn't Heard Script Of His Biopic Yet

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who walked a free man 23 years after his legal problems began over his possessing an assault rifle, says he has not yet heard the script of a biopic on his life -- to be made by director Rajkumar Hirani.

Sanjay Dutt Hasn't Heard Script Of His Biopic Yet

Don't Want To Be Stereotyped, Says Swara Bhaskar

Don't Want To Be Stereotyped, Says Swara Bhaskar
Actor Swara Bhaskar says doing unconventional roles is the best way to get out of being typecast as she doesn't want to "be stereotyped".

Don't Want To Be Stereotyped, Says Swara Bhaskar