Friday, May 15, 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

Karan Is Like My Twin Soul: Bipasha Basu

Karan Is Like My Twin Soul: Bipasha Basu
Actress Bipasha Basu, who has completed one year of marital bliss with Karan Singh Grover, says that the actor has everything that she wanted in her partner and he is like a twin soul.

Karan Is Like My Twin Soul: Bipasha Basu

To Criticise The Way I Dance Is Like Slamming Michael Jackson: Tiger Shroff

To Criticise The Way I Dance Is Like Slamming Michael Jackson: Tiger Shroff
Actor Tiger Shroff has reacted to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma's "potshot" at him saying that criticising him for his style of dance is like pointing fingers at the talent of a legend like the late Michael Jackson.

To Criticise The Way I Dance Is Like Slamming Michael Jackson: Tiger Shroff

Pakistani VJ Madiha Imam To Make Bollywood Debut With Manisha Koirala

Pakistani VJ Madiha Imam To Make Bollywood Debut With Manisha Koirala
VJ Madiha Imam has been cast in an upcoming Bollywood film "Dear Maya", which will star Manisha Koirala.

Pakistani VJ Madiha Imam To Make Bollywood Debut With Manisha Koirala

Take Your Sleep Seriously, Urges Actor Ram Kapoor

Actor Ram Kapoor along with his wife Gautami was on Wednesday named brand ambassador of Philips Healthcare India to create awareness about sleep disorders. 

Take Your Sleep Seriously, Urges Actor Ram Kapoor

Farhan, Ritesh plan web series on 'Taj: A Story of Mughal India'

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and producer Ritesh Sidhwani will produce a web series based on Timeri N. Muraris novel "Taj: A Story of Mughal India" under their banner Excel Entertainment.

Farhan, Ritesh plan web series on 'Taj: A Story of Mughal India'

One Needn't Be Dictated What To Do: Malaika Arora Khan

Malaika Arora Khan says that everybody is very guarded nowadays as there is constant glare on them. She agrees that norms of the society must be followed, but believes it doesn't mean that the person needs to be dictated about what they should do.

One Needn't Be Dictated What To Do: Malaika Arora Khan