Monday, June 8, 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

Sachin Tendulkar, Kavita Seth Donate Rs 1 Lakh Each To Charity

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and singer Kavita Seth have donated Rs 100,000 each to the Rotary Club of Mumbai's The Anshul.Seksaria Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Project.

Sachin Tendulkar, Kavita Seth Donate Rs 1 Lakh Each To Charity

Gulzar Is An All-time Great, Says Kangana Ranaut

Gulzar Is An All-time Great, Says Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut, who graced the launch of "Between The Poet And Her Pencil" -- a collection of poetry by her friend Bondina Elangbam -- says Gulzar continues to be one of the best writers that India has.

Gulzar Is An All-time Great, Says Kangana Ranaut

I'll Do Anything For Animals: Athiya Shetty

Actress Athiya Shetty says she can do anything for animals.

I'll Do Anything For Animals: Athiya Shetty

Will Never Disappoint My Fans: Varun Dhawan

Will Never Disappoint My Fans: Varun Dhawan
Actor Varun Dhawan, who has a huge fan following in India, says he is always ready to bring a smile on his fans faces and will never disappoint them.

Will Never Disappoint My Fans: Varun Dhawan

Sonu Sood Wants To Produce Entertaining Cinema

Sonu Sood Wants To Produce Entertaining Cinema
Actor Sonu Sood says he firmly believes that the main motive of cinema is to entertain, and wants to back projects high on entertainment factor as a producer.

Sonu Sood Wants To Produce Entertaining Cinema

Kareena Kapoor And Saif Ali Khan Welcome Baby Boy, Name Him Taimur

Kareena Kapoor And Saif Ali Khan Welcome Baby Boy, Name Him Taimur
Kareena Kapoor's baby Taimur Ali Khan: Several tweets think the name Taimur is always going to be associated with Timur the invader

Kareena Kapoor And Saif Ali Khan Welcome Baby Boy, Name Him Taimur