Wednesday, June 17, 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 Ray To Launch Perfume Line For A Cause

Actress Lisa Ray will be launching her first range of fragrances on September 21, which also marks the United Nations' International Day of Peace.

Lisa Ray To Launch Perfume Line For A Cause

Riteish Deshmukh Easy To Work With: Nargis Fakhri

Riteish Deshmukh Easy To Work With: Nargis Fakhri
Actress Nargis Fakhri says her "Banjo" co-star Riteish Deshmukh is an easy actor to work with.

Riteish Deshmukh Easy To Work With: Nargis Fakhri

Big B, Aamir, Kareena To Support Global Citizen Movement

Big B, Aamir, Kareena To Support Global Citizen Movement
Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Farhan Akhtar said they would be part of social action platform and The Global Education and Leadership Foundation which was launched on Monday evening.

Big B, Aamir, Kareena To Support Global Citizen Movement

Sanjay Dutt Lauds Mamata's Development Efforts

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt sought blessings from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a visit to the state secretariat Nabanna in neighbouring Howrah district on Monday.

Sanjay Dutt Lauds Mamata's Development Efforts

'Pink' a social thriller: Big B

'Pink' a social thriller: Big B
The question of the context and the premise of the film shall always be of prime interest, and many dwell their queries on that ... much is not spelt out because of the nature of the story and, of course, the nature of its genre -- a social thriller

'Pink' a social thriller: Big B

Vin Diesel, Deepika Flaunt Sabyasachi's Ensembles

Vin Diesel, Deepika Flaunt Sabyasachi's Ensembles
Hollywood star Vin Diesel and his "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" co-star Deepika Padukone flaunted traditional Indian attire, created by ace Indian fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

Vin Diesel, Deepika Flaunt Sabyasachi's Ensembles