Thursday, May 21, 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

Aspire To Have Film Institute In Patna, Bihar: Manoj Bajpayee

Aspire To Have Film Institute In Patna, Bihar: Manoj Bajpayee
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is enjoying the success of his latest film "Naam Shabana" aspires to have a film institute in Patna and Bihar.

Aspire To Have Film Institute In Patna, Bihar: Manoj Bajpayee

Hema Malini Wields Broom, Launches Clean Water Service

BJP MP and veteran actress Hema Malini on Friday picked up a broomstick here to drive the message of cleanliness, and launched a service for home delivery of drinking water.

Hema Malini Wields Broom, Launches Clean Water Service

PICS: Shah Rukh Khan Turns Sikh For This Song With Anushka Sharma

PICS: Shah Rukh Khan Turns Sikh For This Song With Anushka Sharma
The Imtiaz Ali film is still untitled but has got all the elements to keep Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma fans all excited.

PICS: Shah Rukh Khan Turns Sikh For This Song With Anushka Sharma

WATCH: Comedian Sunil Pal Urges Kapil And Sunil To Make Peace; Posts A Video On Social Media

WATCH: Comedian Sunil Pal Urges Kapil And Sunil To Make Peace; Posts A Video On Social Media
Sunil Pal said: "Together you and Kapil have made the show a huge success. You are two wheels of the show and I'm afraid you won't be anything without each other" 

WATCH: Comedian Sunil Pal Urges Kapil And Sunil To Make Peace; Posts A Video On Social Media

Aamir Khan Refuses To Release Dangal In Pakistan Without National Anthem

Aamir Khan Refuses To Release Dangal In Pakistan Without National Anthem
Actor-producer Aamir Khan has decided against releasing his Bollywood blockbuster "Dangal" in Pakistan after the censor board there demanded that two scenes involving the Indian flag and anthem be cut.

Aamir Khan Refuses To Release Dangal In Pakistan Without National Anthem

Kamal Haasan Is The Angriest Person I've Met: Rajinikanth At Prayer Meet Of Kamal's Brother

Kamal Haasan Is The Angriest Person I've Met: Rajinikanth At Prayer Meet Of Kamal's Brother
Even, the current generation actors have made enough money but Kamal doesn’t bother much. Don’t know how he is going to handle things without Chandra

Kamal Haasan Is The Angriest Person I've Met: Rajinikanth At Prayer Meet Of Kamal's Brother