Friday, June 12, 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

Govinda, Aasif Sheikh Share Screen Space After 16 Years

Actor Aasif Sheikh says shooting with Govinda after 16 years for TV show "Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain" was a wonderful experience.

Govinda, Aasif Sheikh Share Screen Space After 16 Years

'Tum Bin 2' song 'Ki kariye nachna...' created in five days

'Tum Bin 2' song 'Ki kariye nachna...' created in five days
Creating a new version of party song "Ki kariye nachna aaonda nahin" for forthcoming film "Tum Bin 2", took just five days, says director Anubhav Sinha.

'Tum Bin 2' song 'Ki kariye nachna...' created in five days

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber sweep MTV EMAs

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber sweep MTV EMAs
Singers Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber swept the MTV European Music Awards (EMA) by collecting two prizes each at a ceremony that paid tribute to late musician Prince.

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber sweep MTV EMAs

Akshay Kumar Gets Bhagvad Gita As Gift

Akshay Kumar Gets Bhagvad Gita As Gift
Actor Akshay Kumar, who is in Mathura for shooting for his upcoming film "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" got the Bhagvad Gita as a gift from a passerby.

Akshay Kumar Gets Bhagvad Gita As Gift

PICS: Aamir Khan Celebrates Wife's Birthday In Meghalaya

PICS: Aamir Khan Celebrates Wife's Birthday In Meghalaya
Superstar Aamir Khan, who is currently spending some quality time with his family in the northeast, is celebrating his wife Kiran Rao's 43rd birthday in Meghalaya.

PICS: Aamir Khan Celebrates Wife's Birthday In Meghalaya

Was Not Prepared For Constant Public Scrutiny: Diana Penty

The sudden interest in her personal as well as professional life after the success of "Cocktail" came as a surprise to actress Diana Penty, who says it took her a while to get used to constant public scrutiny.

Was Not Prepared For Constant Public Scrutiny: Diana Penty