Tuesday, June 9, 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

It's Always Amazing To Work With Shah Rukh: Anushka

It's Always Amazing To Work With Shah Rukh: Anushka
Anushka Sharma is happy to work with superstar Shah Rukh Khan for the third time in Imtiaz Ali's next. The actress says it "is always amazing to work" with him.

It's Always Amazing To Work With Shah Rukh: Anushka

Shahid Starts Shooting For 'Padmavati'

Shahid Starts Shooting For 'Padmavati'
Ranveer will be seen essaying the role of Alauddin Khilji, the medieval-era Delhi sultan, who is enamoured of Padmavati.

Shahid Starts Shooting For 'Padmavati'

Was Rhea Pillai Leander Paes' Wife Or Concubine? Bombay High Court To Decide

Was Rhea Pillai Leander Paes' Wife Or Concubine? Bombay High Court To Decide
The Bombay High Court has admitted the plea of Rhea Pillai seeking review of a sessions court order which had ruled that her live-in relationship with noted tennis player Leander Paes was not that of his wife.

Was Rhea Pillai Leander Paes' Wife Or Concubine? Bombay High Court To Decide

Priyanka Chopra Has This Surprising Confession About Her Brows

Priyanka Chopra Has This Surprising Confession About Her Brows
Everyone says your eyebrows are supposed to be cousins or sisters, not twins, but mine aren't. They're identical twins, and I make sure they look like that.

Priyanka Chopra Has This Surprising Confession About Her Brows

Looking Back A Waste Of Time: Abhishek Bachchan

Looking Back A Waste Of Time: Abhishek Bachchan
He made his acting debut in 2000 and won hearts for performances in films like "Guru" and "Yuva". But Abhishek Bachchan says one should not "waste time" living on "past laurels" and should, instead, look to the future.

Looking Back A Waste Of Time: Abhishek Bachchan

Neha Won't Blame Demonetisation For My Film's Failure

Neha Won't Blame Demonetisation For My Film's Failure
Actress Neha Dhupia, whose film "Moh Maya Money" is set to hit the screens this Friday, says she would not blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move if it failed.

Neha Won't Blame Demonetisation For My Film's Failure