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

SRK Congratulates Nita Ambani On Being Nominated For IOC Candidacy

SRK Congratulates Nita Ambani On Being Nominated For IOC Candidacy
Shah Rukh Khan has congratulated Nita Ambani, founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, on being nominated as an independent candidate to be a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

SRK Congratulates Nita Ambani On Being Nominated For IOC Candidacy

Weight Loss Wasn't Due To Any Pressure: Zareen Khan

Weight Loss Wasn't Due To Any Pressure: Zareen Khan
Actress Zareen Khan, who has been lauded for her physical transformation, says weight loss was not due to any pressure.

Weight Loss Wasn't Due To Any Pressure: Zareen Khan

Bollywood V/s Cricketers Football Match Ends In Draw, Abhishek Says Cause Wins

Bollywood V/s Cricketers Football Match Ends In Draw, Abhishek Says Cause Wins
A charity football match between the film industry and Indian cricketers ended in a 2-2 draw, but actor Abhishek Bachchan said irrespective of the draw the noble cause for which the match was held emerged the winner.

Bollywood V/s Cricketers Football Match Ends In Draw, Abhishek Says Cause Wins

Women Body-Shamed More Than Men: Kunaal Roy Kapur

Women Body-Shamed More Than Men: Kunaal Roy Kapur
After several Bollywood celebrities like Parineeti Chopra, Bhumi Pednekar, Sonakshi Sinha and Zareen Khan chose a healthier lifestyle, actor Kunaal Roy Kapur, who is also seen in a fitter avatar now, says it is the women who are more body-shamed than men.

Women Body-Shamed More Than Men: Kunaal Roy Kapur

'Housefull 3' mints Rs.15.21 crore on opening day

Filmmaker duo Sajid-Farhad's directorial "Housefull 3" earned over Rs.15 crore on its opening day in the country.

'Housefull 3' mints Rs.15.21 crore on opening day

'Saas-bahu' Genre Is Fading: Mona Singh

With the emergence of many mystical, mythological and reality shows on the Indian small screen, actress Mona Singh says "saas-bahu" sagas, which were once a household favourite for many, is fading.

'Saas-bahu' Genre Is Fading: Mona Singh