Wednesday, June 10, 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

SRK Likes Working With Male Directors With Women-Like Sensitivity

SRK Likes Working With Male Directors With Women-Like Sensitivity
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was here to promote his film "Dear Zindagi", which has been directed by Gauri Shinde, says that he is more comfortable working with male directors with a feminine sensitivity or women.

SRK Likes Working With Male Directors With Women-Like Sensitivity

Abhay Deol Acquires Three Critically-acclaimed Indie Films

Actor-producer Abhay Deol has acquired three critically-acclaimed indie films, including "Kaagaz Ki Kashti", which is a documentary on the late ghazal singer Jagjit Singh.

Abhay Deol Acquires Three Critically-acclaimed Indie Films

Shooting In Foreign Lands Is Not Easy: Imtiaz Ali

Shooting In Foreign Lands Is Not Easy: Imtiaz Ali
Director Imtiaz Ali, who is known for showing various exotic locations and travel as a crucial part of his narration, says that shooting films abroad is not as easy as people assume it to be.

Shooting In Foreign Lands Is Not Easy: Imtiaz Ali

Virender Sehwag To Host Web Series ‘Viru Ke Funde'

Virender Sehwag To Host Web Series ‘Viru Ke Funde'
Web series "Viru Ke Funde" which will have former India opener Virender Sehwagas a host, will be launched on Tuesday.

Virender Sehwag To Host Web Series ‘Viru Ke Funde'

Ali Fazal Completes Shooting His Hollywood Film

Actor Ali Fazal has finished shooting his Hollywood film "Victoria and Abdul" here. He said it was a "beautiful wrap".

Ali Fazal Completes Shooting His Hollywood Film

Aamir Khan At Geeta Phogat's Marriage, Dubs 'Dangal' His Wedding Gift

Aamir Khan At Geeta Phogat's Marriage, Dubs 'Dangal' His Wedding Gift
"'Dangal' is my wedding gift to Geeta," Aamir said, adding that he would have gifted her the bridal gown but for "traditional reasons".

Aamir Khan At Geeta Phogat's Marriage, Dubs 'Dangal' His Wedding Gift