Monday, June 22, 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

'24' looks pretty amazing: Big B

'24' looks pretty amazing: Big B
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has wished luck to actor-producer Anil Kapoor for his forthcoming TV series “24: Season 2”, saying that the promos of the show look “pretty amazing”.

'24' looks pretty amazing: Big B

Salman Khan promotes tree plantation

Salman took to Twitter to share photographs of himself planting saplings along with the commoner

Salman Khan promotes tree plantation

Stage Gives Me Great Sense Of Belonging: Anupam Kher

Veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, also a theatre artiste, says the stage gives him a “great sense of belonging”.

Stage Gives Me Great Sense Of Belonging: Anupam Kher

Akshay Kumar Gets Faravahar From Zoroastrian Community

Actor Akshay Kumar, who awaits the release of his forthcoming film “Rustom”, has been gifted a Faravahar -- one of the symbols of Zoroastrianism -- by the Zoroastrian community here.

Akshay Kumar Gets Faravahar From Zoroastrian Community

Deplorable When Sportsmen, Artistes Become Victims Of Hate: Shoaib Akhtar

Deplorable When Sportsmen, Artistes Become Victims Of Hate: Shoaib Akhtar
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, popularly known as 'Rawalpindi Express', says it is "unfortunate and deplorable" when they become victims of hate or crime.

Deplorable When Sportsmen, Artistes Become Victims Of Hate: Shoaib Akhtar

Selfies are invasive, says Shabana

Shabana took to Twitter on Sunday to share one incident where politely people asked her for photographs and not selfies.

Selfies are invasive, says Shabana