The Akshay Kumar Interview: I don’t know why other actors turned down Toilet: EK Prem Katha

One of the most versatile actors in Bollywood, Akshay Kumar has been in the industry for more than 27 years now and proved his mettle over and again with a number of financially and critically successful films. In last few years, the actor has shown a kind of versatility which no other actor has managed to match up to. Look at the variety of films he has done in last couple of years. If he has pulled off comedies like Singh Is King, Welcome and Houseful with peerless panache, he has also done full justice to his roles in movies like Baby, Airlift and Rustom. His sterling performance in his 2016 release Rustom even brought him his first National award for Best Actor. Currently, Khiladi Kumar is one of the most sought after actors in the Hindi film industry. And his fan-base is all set expand post the release of his next Tamil science-fiction 2.0 with Rajinikanth. The actor who always remains in news for some reason or the other spoke to us about his forthcoming film Toilet - Ek Prem Katha which is going to arrive in cinemas on the 11th of August 2017. Akshay also opened about his much talked about Karan Johar and Salman Khan’s co-production film Battle of Saragarhi which was rumoured to be shelved and much more.

You must be aware of the fact that many stars had refused to do Toilet- Ek Prem Katha? Why, according to you, they did not do the film?

I don’t know why other actors turned down the film. This script was roaming around in the industry for 4-5 years and nobody was interested in doing it. However, when this script came to me I liked the subject and found it very intriguing and I decided to do this film.

Whose idea was it to change the title of the film?

It was a collective decision. We all discussed on the title of the film and then we renamed the film’s title as Toilet - Ek Prem Katha. Earlier it was titled as Sandas: Ek Prem Katha, a title which may not go down well many people. So, we changed the title from Sandas: Ek Prem Katha to Toilet - Ek Prem Katha.

If we look at your films since 2016 it seems you are more attracted towards films which are based on real life stories. So are you really interested in doing such films?

I find real life stories more fascinating. I love to know about their struggles and that is why whenever I get such kind of script, I do it.

Since 2010 this is the first time you have only 2 films releasing, one was Jolly LLB and the other is your upcoming film Toilet - Ek Prem Katha…

Are you trying to say that I have become lazy (humorously)? Actually, I have finished shooting for Padman. The movie 2.0 is also ready and Crack is in the making.

When are you planning to release Padman?

It will release very soon.Caption

After the success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the expectation from 2.0 has increased. So what kind of expectations do you have from 2.0?

I don’t know how it will fare at the box office, I have finished shooting for it and at the moment I am focusing on my next release Toilet - Ek Prem Katha.

Are you playing a negative role in that film?

Yes. I am playing an antagonist in 2.0.

Recently, there were reports that your film Battle of Saragarhi with Salman Khan and Karan Johar Productions has been shelved. Is it still happening?

Yes, it is happening.

There were a lot of speculations that Salman Khan has moved out of Battle of Saragrahi and that is why it has got shelved now…

It’s not true. Only whether Salman will co-produce the film or not is still not finalized. But the film is definitely happening.

You have been in the industry for a very long time. Tell us what changes do you see in Bollywood today?

A lot of things have changed. The cameras, screenplays, people’s thinking, and the audiences have changed enormously. The theatres have changed. The number of zeros in our pay cheques has increased; the media have become nice and aggressive today.