Monday, May 18, 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

Need Stricter Laws For Crimes Against Women: Gauahar Khan

Actress Gauahar Khan believes violence against women will continue if the central government and the judiciary don't formulate stricter laws.

Need Stricter Laws For Crimes Against Women: Gauahar Khan

Aamir Khan Promotes 'Dangal' In China With Sport Stars

Aamir Khan Promotes 'Dangal' In China With Sport Stars
Chinese professional boxer Zou Shiming and American basketball player Stephon Marbury promoted the Indian sports drama "Dangal" with its lead actor Aamir Khan here on Wednesday.

Aamir Khan Promotes 'Dangal' In China With Sport Stars

Rohit Shetty May Return As Host Of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who hosted the fifth and sixth seasons of the stunt reality show "Khatron Ke Khiladi", is likely to return as the host of its upcoming eighth season, says his friend and actor Ajay Devgn.

Rohit Shetty May Return As Host Of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'

Hrithik Praises Team For Inspiring Him

"So very proud of belonging to this team of HRX! Thank you guys for breaking barriers defeating defeat and inspiring me to keep going! Love you all," Hrithik captioned the image that he shared on Twitter on Tuesday.

Hrithik Praises Team For Inspiring Him

Amazing To See Book On 'Amar Akbar Anthony': Amitabh Bachchan

Amazing To See Book On 'Amar Akbar Anthony': Amitabh Bachchan
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is more than happy after he got to know that Harvard University Press has come up with a book on his 1977 film "Amar Akbar Anthony".

Amazing To See Book On 'Amar Akbar Anthony': Amitabh Bachchan

Saira Banu, Jackie Get Raj Kapoor Award

Well-known Marathi film industry personalities Vikram Gokhale and Arun Nalawade have been named for the coveted V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement and V. Shantaram Special Contribution annual awards, he added.

Saira Banu, Jackie Get Raj Kapoor Award