Tuesday, May 19, 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

I Stand By My Statement: Sonu Nigam Calls Azaan 'Forced Religiousness', Evoke Mixed Response

The "Kal ho naa ho" singer posted: "God bless everyone. I'm not a Muslim and I have to be woken up by the azaan in the morning. When will this forced religiousness end in India?" 

I Stand By My Statement: Sonu Nigam Calls Azaan 'Forced Religiousness', Evoke Mixed Response

Hazel Keech Opens Up About Extending The Family, Rues She Hardly Sees Him Post Marriage

Ahead of the wedding, Hazel had admitted (also on behalf of Yuvraj) to not having enough time to themselves

Hazel Keech Opens Up About Extending The Family, Rues She Hardly Sees Him Post Marriage

Was Alia Bhatt Stuck Alone With A Drunk Man At 3 In The Night?

Was Alia Bhatt Stuck Alone With A Drunk Man At 3 In The Night?
Alia Bhatt reportedly realized the bodyguard was drunk while he was escorting her home from actor Sidharth Malhotra's place

Was Alia Bhatt Stuck Alone With A Drunk Man At 3 In The Night?

The First Trailer Of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Is Out & It Has A Special Request For Their Fans!

The First Trailer Of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Is Out & It Has A Special Request For Their Fans!
It has been exciting ever since it was announced that our favourite show Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai is returning as a web series and all of this excitement just got higher when the cast of went live on Facebook through the Hotstar page. 

The First Trailer Of Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Is Out & It Has A Special Request For Their Fans!

Sunil Grover, Ali Asgar To Return On Screen Together, But Not For Kapil Sharma Show?

Sunil Grover, Ali Asgar To Return On Screen Together, But Not For Kapil Sharma Show?
Ali Asgar and Sunil Grover have agreed to shoot for the channel but the actors haven't yet revealed anything about returning to The Kapil Sharma Show.

Sunil Grover, Ali Asgar To Return On Screen Together, But Not For Kapil Sharma Show?

Sunny Leone Would Like To Start High-end 'Hip Street Line'

Sunny has been signed on as the brand ambassador for the online jewellery portal -- jewelsouk.com. Its commercial, directed by Siddharth Anand, launched on Tuesday.

Sunny Leone Would Like To Start High-end 'Hip Street Line'