Sunday, May 17, 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 Guardians Of The Galaxy Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba To Classic Bappi Lahiri Song

Watch Guardians Of The Galaxy Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba To Classic Bappi Lahiri Song
Bappi Lahiri’s classic disco number Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba will be featured in a video to promote the India release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.

Watch Guardians Of The Galaxy Jhoom Jhoom Jhoom Baba To Classic Bappi Lahiri Song

CBFC Guidelines Should Change Now: Raveena Tandon

CBFC Guidelines Should Change Now: Raveena Tandon
Actress Raveena Tandon, whose new film "Maatr" has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an 'A' certificate, said that the guidelines of the censor board should change now as today "times have changed".

CBFC Guidelines Should Change Now: Raveena Tandon

See Pics: Finally Sunil Grover, Kapil Sharma And Ali Asgar Are United By The Same Show

See Pics: Finally Sunil Grover, Kapil Sharma And Ali Asgar Are United By The Same Show
As Sunil Grover and Ali Asgar shot for Sony TV's Sabse Bada Kalakar, Kapil Sharma hosted the show's judge Boman Irani and his team on his show. For once, Sunil and Kapil were united by a show but it was not Kapil Sharma Show.

See Pics: Finally Sunil Grover, Kapil Sharma And Ali Asgar Are United By The Same Show

Diljit Dosanjh Joins The League Of Big Stars! Buys An Expensive Private Jet

Diljit Dosanjh Joins The League Of Big Stars! Buys An Expensive Private Jet
Diljit Dosanjh is heading for Dream Tour concert, and he is going to travel on his private jet from now on.

Diljit Dosanjh Joins The League Of Big Stars! Buys An Expensive Private Jet

Om Puri's Wife Nandita Angry At Ghost Video, Calls Pakistani News Anchor 'A Joker'

Om Puri's Wife Nandita Angry At Ghost Video, Calls Pakistani News Anchor 'A Joker'
Late actor Om Puri’s wife Nandita Puri calls the ghost video “disgraceful”, says Pakistani news anchor “Aamir Liaquat has survived a lot of these cheap thrills earlier too”.

Om Puri's Wife Nandita Angry At Ghost Video, Calls Pakistani News Anchor 'A Joker'

Asha Parekh Reveals Details Of Romance With Nasir Hussain, Says She Wasn't A 'Homebreaker'

Asha Parekh Reveals Details Of Romance With Nasir Hussain, Says She Wasn't A 'Homebreaker'
Asha Parekh said: "Yes, Nasir Saab was the only man I ever loved. I was never a homebreaker. There was never any ill will between me and Nasir Saab's family"

Asha Parekh Reveals Details Of Romance With Nasir Hussain, Says She Wasn't A 'Homebreaker'