Saturday, July 4, 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

Watch: Randeep Hooda Ends 'Sarbjit' Shoot, Shaves Off Moustache

Watch: Randeep Hooda Ends 'Sarbjit' Shoot, Shaves Off Moustache
Actor Randeep Hooda has bid "goodbye" to his avatar as Sarabjit Singh for the biopic "Sarbjit", and he found an innovative way to end his tryst with the character -- by shaving off the moustache he was flaunting for it on camera.

Watch: Randeep Hooda Ends 'Sarbjit' Shoot, Shaves Off Moustache

Parineeti Finds TOIFA Co-host Riteish Deshmukh 'Dunniest Person'

Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, who is prepping to co-host the second edition of the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) along with actor Riteish Deshmukh later this week, says she loves how funny and impromptu he is as a person.

Parineeti Finds TOIFA Co-host Riteish Deshmukh 'Dunniest Person'

Shreya Feels 'Special' With Triple Nomination At TOIFA

Songstress Shreya Ghoshal has three of her tracks up for nomination in the Best Playback Singer (Female) category at the second edition of the Times Of India Film Awards (TOIFA). She admits it is unusual but special.

Shreya Feels 'Special' With Triple Nomination At TOIFA

Ali Fazal 'Dreams' Of Working With Sanjay Dutt

Actor Ali Fazal says he considers Bollywood's 'Munna Bhai' Sanjay Dutt his idol, and hopes to share screen space with the star some day.

Ali Fazal 'Dreams' Of Working With Sanjay Dutt

YouTube Stars Share Success Fundas In Delhi

  For the main event, the line-up features over 35 popular YouTube stars from around the world, including Indo-Canadian online personality Lilly Singh, also known by her YouTube username IISuperwomanII.

YouTube Stars Share Success Fundas In Delhi

Honey Singh Looks Forward To Share Stage With Salman

The rapper, whose real name is Hirdesh Singh, has shared screen space with a string of A-listers like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan, but has never got a chance to perform with the "Wanted" star

Honey Singh Looks Forward To Share Stage With Salman