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

Priyanka Chopra Ecstatic About Dwayne Johnson's 'Sexiest Man Alive' Title

Indian actress Priyanka Chopra has called her "Baywatch" co-star Dwayne Johnson "sexy".

Priyanka Chopra Ecstatic About Dwayne Johnson's 'Sexiest Man Alive' Title

Jennifer Aniston To Adopt From Mexican Orphanage

Actress Jennifer Aniston is reportedly adopting children from two Mexican orphanages.

Jennifer Aniston To Adopt From Mexican Orphanage

Akshay Is My Biggest Cheerleader: Twinkle Khanna

Akshay Is My Biggest Cheerleader: Twinkle Khanna
Writer and former actress Twinkle Khanna, who has come up with her second book "The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad", says her husband Akshay Kumar is more proud of her work than anyone ever has been.

Akshay Is My Biggest Cheerleader: Twinkle Khanna

Karan Johar To Host '2.o' First Look Launch

Filmmaker Karan Johar will host the first look launch event of superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming Tamil sci-fi action drama "2.o" here on Sunday.

Karan Johar To Host '2.o' First Look Launch

I'm Not Entering SRK's Territory With 'Befikre': Ranveer Singh

I'm Not Entering SRK's Territory With 'Befikre': Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh on Tuesday said he was the first choice of Aditya Chopra for "Befikre" right from the beginning despite the director having Shah Rukh Khan star in all his three films he made in his near three-decade long career.

I'm Not Entering SRK's Territory With 'Befikre': Ranveer Singh

Chris Martin Lands In India For Global Citizen Festival

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin arrived here on Wednesday, three days ahead of the debut edition of the Global Citizen Festival India (GCFI), where he is scheduled to perform with his world-famous British boy band.

Chris Martin Lands In India For Global Citizen Festival