Thursday, June 25, 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

Dream To Open School For Kids: Raveena Tandon

Dream To Open School For Kids: Raveena Tandon
  While actors and filmmakers have opened acting schools off and on, Raveena has no such plans.

Dream To Open School For Kids: Raveena Tandon

Playback Singers Don't Get Their Due: Kanika Kapoor

Kanika Kapoor, known for crooning her "Baby doll" song, says playback singers don't get their due in Bollywood.

Playback Singers Don't Get Their Due: Kanika Kapoor

'PK' to release in Japan

'PK' to release in Japan
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's blockbuster film “PK”, which went on to become the highest grossing film of India upon its release in December 2014, is all set to hit theatres in Japan.

'PK' to release in Japan

Sunil Grover Seduces Randeep Hooda On TV Show

When Randeep and Kajal came to promote their movie, as part of the gag, Sunil was dressed as a female Haryanvi cop. He was on the lookout for a miscreant and thought that it was Randeep

Sunil Grover Seduces Randeep Hooda On TV Show

The Whole Country Has Become A Censor Board: Irrfan Khan

Actor Irrfan Khan says he is surprised that when a film addresses a crucial issue that has been present for several years, it suddenly becomes a "big issue" and that the whole country has become a censor board as anyone can make an issue out of anything.

The Whole Country Has Become A Censor Board: Irrfan Khan

Abhishek Thinks He Wasn't The 'Hero' In 'Guru', 'Bluffmaster'

Actor Abhishek Bachchan says he doesn't look upon films in terms of words like 'lead actor' and 'male solo actor' and doesn't consider himself the main lead in his hit films such as 'Guru' and 'Bluffmaster'.

Abhishek Thinks He Wasn't The 'Hero' In 'Guru', 'Bluffmaster'