Wednesday, June 24, 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

Yoga Not A Religious Practice: Ramdev

Yoga Not A Religious Practice: Ramdev
Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu also participated in the rehearsal. 

Yoga Not A Religious Practice: Ramdev

More power to honest, fearless cinema, says Shahid

More power to honest, fearless cinema, says Shahid
Actor Shahid Kapoor, who has featured in "Udta Punjab" based on drug abuse in Punjab, has thanked the audience for praising the Abhishek Chaubey directorial. He has even given thumbs up to "honest and fearless cinema".

More power to honest, fearless cinema, says Shahid

Need To Check Our Ticket Pricing: Salman

Need To Check Our Ticket Pricing: Salman
Superstar Salman Khan, who is awaiting the release of his next film "Sultan", feels that in order to maximise footfalls for movies, ticket prices need to be reduced and number of theatres should be increased.

Need To Check Our Ticket Pricing: Salman

Charlie Sheen Gives Up Drinking, Drugs

Hollywood star Charlie Sheen says his days of drink and drug benders are over.

Charlie Sheen Gives Up Drinking, Drugs

'Udta Punjab' Mints Over Rs 30 Crore In Opening Weekend

Director Abhishek Chaubey's crime drama film “Udta Punjab”, based on drug abuse in Punjab, minted Rs 33.80 crore in its opening weekend.

'Udta Punjab' Mints Over Rs 30 Crore In Opening Weekend

Dhoni biopic release date pushed to September 30

Neeraj Pandey's “M.S. Dhoni - The Untold Story”, a biopic on cricket icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will now release on September 30 instead of September 2. The makers took the decision to present the film in the "best way".

Dhoni biopic release date pushed to September 30