Thursday, June 4, 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

Arjun Rampal's Mother Beats Cancer

Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal is ecstatic that his mother has beaten cancer.

Arjun Rampal's Mother Beats Cancer

Pakistan To Allow Screening Of Indian Films

Raees and Kaabil may become the first Indian movies to be screened in Pakistan after the government lifts the four-months-long ban on the screening of Bollywood movies in the country, following Indo-Pak tensions.

Pakistan To Allow Screening Of Indian Films

Shah Rukh Khan: I Don't Want To Be A Part Of This Hashtag Trend

Shah Rukh Khan: I Don't Want To Be A Part Of This Hashtag Trend
I found it very odd that all the journalists started saying “when will Indian actors start speaking like this?” 

Shah Rukh Khan: I Don't Want To Be A Part Of This Hashtag Trend

Diljit Dosanjh Not 'Hurt' By Harshvardhan Kapoor's Criticism Of Filmfare Win

Harshvardhan Kapoor suggested that Diljit Dosanjh didn't qualify as a debutant. Diljit in his response said that he was not "hurt" or "sad" and that he admires both Harshvardhan and his father, actor Anil Kapoor

Diljit Dosanjh Not 'Hurt' By Harshvardhan Kapoor's Criticism Of Filmfare Win

Indians, Pakistanis in Toronto pay tributes to Om Puri

Indians, Pakistanis in Toronto pay tributes to Om Puri
A large number of theatre artists and writers from India and Pakistan paid rich tributes to actor Om Puri here.

Indians, Pakistanis in Toronto pay tributes to Om Puri

I Don't Prepare Myself For Any Role: Akshay Kumar

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who has played different roles ranging from a gangster to a navyal officer in his career, says that rather than preparing for a role himself, he believes in the director's preparation.

I Don't Prepare Myself For Any Role: Akshay Kumar