Sunday, June 21, 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

We Didn't Want To Make Movie Which Makes Me Hero: MS Dhoni

One of the most celebrated cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni's life has been captured on the big screen with the film "MS Dhoni: The Untold Story" but the cricketer says he did not want to show himself as a hero in the film.

We Didn't Want To Make Movie Which Makes Me Hero: MS Dhoni

UN stamp, A.R. Rahman concert to honour Subbulakshmi

UN stamp, A.R. Rahman concert to honour Subbulakshmi
The UN is honouring M.S. Subbulakshmi by issuing a stamp on Independence Day to mark the birth centenary of the "Queen of Music".

UN stamp, A.R. Rahman concert to honour Subbulakshmi

Alia Bhatt Does Her First Rain Song For Akshay Kumar's Rustom, Watch Video

Alia Bhatt Does Her First Rain Song For Akshay Kumar's Rustom, Watch Video
The song had originally featured Akshay with Raveena, and is said to be one of the most sensuously shot rain songs in Bollywood.

Alia Bhatt Does Her First Rain Song For Akshay Kumar's Rustom, Watch Video

Sharad Kelkar to dub for Vin Diesel in Deepika Padukone’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage

Sharad Kelkar to dub for Vin Diesel in Deepika Padukone’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage
Sharad Kelkar, who's also a dubbing artist to dub will lend his voice for Hollywood action superstar Vin Diesel’s upcoming thriller xXx: Return of Xander Cage.

Sharad Kelkar to dub for Vin Diesel in Deepika Padukone’s xXx: Return of Xander Cage

'Mohenjo Daro' Already A Winner: Hrithik Roshan

For Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, "Mohenjo Daro", which is releasing on Friday, is already a winner. He believes "success" lies in enjoying doing what you love and in that sense, the Ashutosh Gowariker directorial has been enriching for him.

'Mohenjo Daro' Already A Winner: Hrithik Roshan

Is Sonakshi Sinha Engaged To Rumoured Beau Bunty Sachdev? This Is What She Has To Say

Is Sonakshi Sinha Engaged To Rumoured Beau Bunty Sachdev? This Is What She Has To Say
The actress, daughter of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, is in the middle of promoting her new film "Akira", in which she will be seen in hardcore action scenes. 

Is Sonakshi Sinha Engaged To Rumoured Beau Bunty Sachdev? This Is What She Has To Say