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

Lisa Haydon Excited To Feature In Web Series

Actress Lisa Haydon, who is all set to be seen in "The Trip", says she is excited to be a part of the web series.

Lisa Haydon Excited To Feature In Web Series

Aishwarya Is A Director's Actor: Omung Kumar

Aishwarya Is A Director's Actor: Omung Kumar
  Kumar said that "after the release of 'Sarbjit' (2016), people have changed their perception about her as an actress".

Aishwarya Is A Director's Actor: Omung Kumar

Gurmeet Choudhary Focussing Mostly On Bollywood

Gurmeet Choudhary Focussing Mostly On Bollywood
Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who will next be seen in a bold avatar in the forthcoming film "Wajah Tum Ho", says he is currently focussing on Bollywood.

Gurmeet Choudhary Focussing Mostly On Bollywood

Watch: Shah Rukh Khan Dedicates Poem In Sandesh 2 Soldiers

Watch: Shah Rukh Khan Dedicates Poem In Sandesh 2 Soldiers
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has penned and recorded a special message in the form of a poem for the Indian soldiers, as a way to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's #Sandesh2Soldiers initiative.

Watch: Shah Rukh Khan Dedicates Poem In Sandesh 2 Soldiers

Virat Kohli And Anushka Sharma Are Back Together

Virat Kohli And Anushka Sharma Are Back Together
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma were spotted together in the Indian Super League match between FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos.

Virat Kohli And Anushka Sharma Are Back Together

Shah Rukh Khan's Entry In Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Saw Fireworks At A Cinema Hall

Shah Rukh Khan's Entry In Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Saw Fireworks At A Cinema Hall
KJo’s Ae Dil hai Mushkil had a starry release amid numerous promotions and events. And considering it opened on the Diwali weekend, some fireworks were expected at the box office. 

Shah Rukh Khan's Entry In Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Saw Fireworks At A Cinema Hall