Monday, May 25, 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

Salman Khan Has Always Stood By Me As Friend: Raveena Tandon

Salman Khan Has Always Stood By Me As Friend: Raveena Tandon
Actress Raveena Tandon says superstar Salman Khan -- opposite whom she made her film debut with the 1991 entertainer "Patthar Ke Phool" -- has always stood by her in times of need when others turned their back.

Salman Khan Has Always Stood By Me As Friend: Raveena Tandon

No Problem With Sidhu's Tv Show If It's Permissible: Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said his party had no problem with Navjot Singh Sidhu working in a TV show if it is constitutionally permissible.

No Problem With Sidhu's Tv Show If It's Permissible: Punjab CM

Raveena Won't Promote 'Maatr - The Mother' On Arunabh Kumar's TVF

Actress Raveena Tandon has cancelled plans to promote her upcoming movie "Maatr - The Mother" on The Viral Fever (TVF), following the sexual harassment allegations against its founder and CEO Arunabh Kumar.

Raveena Won't Promote 'Maatr - The Mother' On Arunabh Kumar's TVF

Why Was Mahira Khan Pleading With Ranbir Kapoor? Here's The Answer, Watch Viral Backstage Video

Why Was Mahira Khan Pleading With Ranbir Kapoor? Here's The Answer, Watch Viral Backstage Video
A viral backstage video showed Pakistani actor Mahira Khan pleading with Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, leaving fans wondering what was happening.

Why Was Mahira Khan Pleading With Ranbir Kapoor? Here's The Answer, Watch Viral Backstage Video

Salman Khan Leads Bollywood In Advance Tax For 2016-17, Kapil Sharma Sees 206% Jump

Salman Khan Leads Bollywood In Advance Tax For 2016-17, Kapil Sharma Sees 206% Jump
Salman Khan paid the most advance tax of any Bollywood actor for the financial year 2016-17. He is followed by Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan. Comedian Kapil Sharma made a 206% jump from the previous year.

Salman Khan Leads Bollywood In Advance Tax For 2016-17, Kapil Sharma Sees 206% Jump

Meet Zhalay Sarhadi, The Pakistani Model Who Claims To Be Priyanka’s Doppelganger

Meet Zhalay Sarhadi, The Pakistani Model Who Claims To Be Priyanka’s Doppelganger
Pakistani model Zhalay Sarhadi, recently in an interview joked about being compared to Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra and how she was asked to play her body double

Meet Zhalay Sarhadi, The Pakistani Model Who Claims To Be Priyanka’s Doppelganger