CLEAN-UP HEROES: AKSHAY KUMAR AND MATT DAMON

Akshay says it’s wonderful that the ‘No Toilet, No Bride’ rule has taken India by storm

As Toilet: Ek Prem Katha continues to roar at the box office, crossing the 125-crore mark, the film’s lead actor Akshay Kumar says that he never expected to win the number game. “I never wanted to focus on the money this film could make, only the awareness it could create,” says Akshay.

Glad that American actor and philanthropist Matt Damon has also watched the film and shared words of appreciation, Akshay feels that such support definitely helps in spreading the message. He says, “When mentors and idols from across the world welcome your efforts with open arms and in such a respectful nature, it’s humbling beyond comprehension. When you set out to do good, even more good comes back to you — karma circle at its best.”

Akshay has established himself as an actor who chooses content-driven characters; it’s only a bonus that his films usually cross the 100-crore mark fastest. “With such success, you can’t have complacency. One has a ridiculous amount of responsibility,” he says.

“I believe,” he adds, “that the entertainment industry has the power to make India a better, safer, and more hygienic country to love and live [in]. Just by educating the people sometimes via comedy, you can spread awareness on [critical] issues of today, so they can finally be gone tomorrow.”

On viewer reactions, he says, “The best part of our journey has been receiving information about women taking a strong stand before a marriage proposal can take place. The ‘No Toilet, No Bride’ rule has taken India by storm.” About those who called Toilet: Ek Prem Katha an “agenda film” and part of BJP propaganda, Akshay asserts that “not everything is about politics” and one has to take charge of things and not always expect the state to act. He says, “Isn’t it true there’s always a few that want to defecate on one’s parade? Those few people need to drop the cynicism and have a little faith that some people in this world just want to make things better. It’s not only the BJP that wants to clean India; Indians want to clean India also, so let’s not tarnish efforts by slandering our motives.”

[Bollywood] has the power to make India a better, safer, and more hygienic country to love and live [in] AKSHAY KUMAR, ACTOR

PHOTO: SHIVAM SAXENA//HT