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

I'm No Longer Trying To Be Superwoman: Vidya Balan

Versatile actress Vidya Balan, who will clock four years of marital bliss with producer Siddharth Roy Kapur on Wednesday, says she finds balancing life between home and work an "overrated" concept, and that she is no longer trying to be "superwoman".

I'm No Longer Trying To Be Superwoman: Vidya Balan

Dilip Kumar Thanks All For Wishing Him On Birthday

Veteran actor Dilip Kumar has thanked all his fans and followers for sending him "lovely messages" on his 94th birthday.

Dilip Kumar Thanks All For Wishing Him On Birthday

Koffee With Karan: Aamir Khan reveals what a girl needs to do to get close to him, watch video

Koffee With Karan: Aamir Khan reveals what a girl needs to do to get close to him, watch video
 “I am an emotional man, so when the Dangal trailer came on YouTube, we were all crying,” Aamir revealed. 

Koffee With Karan: Aamir Khan reveals what a girl needs to do to get close to him, watch video

'I Hurt Jayalalithaa, Was Key Reason For Her Party's Defeat': Rajinikanth

'I Hurt Jayalalithaa, Was Key Reason For Her Party's Defeat': Rajinikanth
South megastar Rajinikanth on Sunday spoke glowingly of J Jayalalithaa, who died last week, and remarked that he had "hurt her" by making critical statements that, he said, damaged her party in a state election 20 years ago.

'I Hurt Jayalalithaa, Was Key Reason For Her Party's Defeat': Rajinikanth

Raees: Shah Rukh Khan Meets Raj Thackeray On, 'Assures' He Won’t Work With Pakistani Actors

Raees: Shah Rukh Khan Meets Raj Thackeray On, 'Assures' He Won’t Work With Pakistani Actors
After the meeting, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray told news agency ANI: "He (Shah Rukh Khan) had come to inform that rumours about Mahira Khan promoting Raees are false.”

Raees: Shah Rukh Khan Meets Raj Thackeray On, 'Assures' He Won’t Work With Pakistani Actors

Don't Believe In Awards, Says Kangana

Actress Kangana Ranaut says she doesn't believe in awards and doesn't attend award functions.

Don't Believe In Awards, Says Kangana