'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha': Best quotes by Akshay Kumar during film promotions

A new wave of content-driven cinema has dawned upon the otherwise conventional Hindi film industry. Khiladi Kumar aka Akshay Kumar could easily be made the flag bearer of new-age socially driven films he has aptly been choosing to be a part of. His forthcoming film is leaving no stone unturned to make a mark at the box office with its innovative storyline. 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' sees a love story brew in rural India which eventually ends up becoming a saga that highlights the plight of women defecating in the open. Co-starring Bhumi Pednekar, this film is all set to break the shackles of conventional cinema.

Here are a few hand-picked quotes by the lead actors while promoting their film in the country.

At a recent promotional event, Akshay Kumar pointed out that matters related to defecation in hygienic conditions were still a taboo in the country. However, he hopes that his film changes people's mindset about this topic. "Talks on toilet are still taboo in India. I remember when I had to say a dialogue in the film which is, 'Ab biwi ghar aaye na aye, sundaas to laakar hi chhodunga is gaon mein', people were rethinking if I should say it or not. But as an individual, I think it is necessary... I mean who does not go to the toilet," he shared at an event.

During one of the promotions of 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha', the two actors, Bhumi Pednekar and Akshay Kumar engaged in a witty conversation. During the interaction, Akki was asked for his definition of a true desh bhakt. Without delving too far away from the toilet debate, the actor joked, "I believe a real desh bhakt is a guy who sits in Indian style at a western styled toilet."

Recently Akshay Kumar wielded a broom along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to make people aware of the importance of cleanliness in their surroundings. During the event, the actor shed light on the importance of using toilets saying, "Our youth is very strong minded. They understand the necessity of using the toilet. Some people are starting to talk about it, which is great… It means awareness has been created. See, it is also about the mindset. In places where I have gone, I heard people saying, ‘We don’t do it (defecate) in the same house where we cook food’. But how can they openly defecate on the field, from where the food is coming? The government is doing its part (by sanctioning public toilets)… People should also take a step."

Akshay Kumar has said his upcoming film, 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' was offered to many other heroes, who rejected the movie before it landed on his plate. the actor revealed that the script was doing the rounds in the industry, for over four years, with o takers. “The writers brought the subject to me. Interestingly, this script was doing the rounds in the industry for over four years. It went to a lot of heroes, a lot of people but nobody picked it up. I liked it and I asked Neeraj Pandey with folded hands to give it to me." He also stated that the film was initially titled 'Sandaas: Ek Prem Katha' but the makers later decided to change it to ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’.

Akshay Kumar said that 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 said the distributor has applied for tax exemption for the film. During the trailer launch of the film, 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."

'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' is based on the subject of sanitation and the need to have a toilet in every household to reduce health issues among women and children. Helmed by Shree Narayan Singh, the movie is slated to hit the screens on August 11.