Thursday, June 11, 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

Tiger Shroff elated with films’ premieres getting high TRPs on TV

Tiger Shroff, who has had two releases this year, Baaghi and A Flying Jatt, is overwhelmed with the response his films are getting on the small screen.

Tiger Shroff elated with films’ premieres getting high TRPs on TV

Proud That My Children Are Not Echoes Of Their Parents: Javed Akhtar

Acclaimed writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar says he is proud of the fact that his children -- Zoya and Farhan -- are doing something completely different from what his portfolio in the Indian film industry.

Proud That My Children Are Not Echoes Of Their Parents: Javed Akhtar

Anupam Kher To Enact Monologue At Literature Festival In Delhi

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, who runs his own acting school, will perform his popular monologue "Kuchhh Bhi Ho Sakta Hai" at Sahitya Aaj Tak literature festival here on Sunday.

Anupam Kher To Enact Monologue At Literature Festival In Delhi

Harbhajan Singh To Judge 'Roadies Rising' With Neha Dhupia

Harbhajan Singh To Judge 'Roadies Rising' With Neha Dhupia

After judging comedy TV show "Mazaak Mazaak Mein", veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan...

Harbhajan Singh To Judge 'Roadies Rising' With Neha Dhupia

One Kannada Actor's Body Fished Out From Lake After Stunt

One Kannada Actor's Body Fished Out From Lake After Stunt
The body of one of the two actors who drowned in a nearby lake enacting a stunt scene for a Kannada film was fished out on Wednesday, said an official.

One Kannada Actor's Body Fished Out From Lake After Stunt

Sonam Kapoor Meets Stan Lee In Hollywood

Sonam Kapoor Meets Stan Lee In Hollywood
 Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who had a blink-and-miss appearance in Coldplay's single "Hymn for the weekend", had a superhero moment when she met legendary writer Stan Lee.

Sonam Kapoor Meets Stan Lee In Hollywood