‘TEPK’ a propaganda film? Here’s what Akshay has to say…

It was a prolonged drought at the box office, before Akshay Kumar’s ‘Toilet- Ek Prem Katha’ hit the screens. The film is going great guns and has neared the 100-crore club within the first week itself.

For those uninitiated, it is a satirical narration of India’s sanitation system which is in an urgent need of upgradation. The Government of India recently started running the ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign, to attain a cleaner and more hygenic India, and the film extensively opposes the practice of open defecation and advocates in favour of a more hygenic sanitation.

In light of this, a number of critics have called ‘Toilet- Ek Prem Katha’ a propoganda film. Akshay, however, is not regertful and says there’s nothing wrong in promoting a social cause that the Government is also working on. (Also Read: Akshay Kumar thanks fans ‘Direct Dil Se’, for showing love to ‘TEPK)

“If the government is saying the same thing, which is good, and if you call that a propaganda, then okay, we are doing propaganda. I believe building a toilet is extremely important, especially for women,” he said, at the success press conference of the film.

“I am talking about sanitary pads in ‘Padman’ and you’ll be sad to know that 91 per cent of women don’t use it because they can’t afford it. To talk about such things and bring them in the forefront isn’t propaganda. You want such issues to be highlighted and talked about,” he added.

Akshay, who is presently in London, joined the press conference on Skype.

Most of his recent films including ‘Toilet- Ek Prem Katha’. ‘Jolly LL.B 2’, and ‘Airlift’ largely revolve around social issues. However, Akshay doesn’t want to get typecast.

“If I like a film, I’ll do it. I have done a villain’s role in ‘Robot 2.0’. Then I am doing a sports film ‘Gold’, which is completely different. I am not just doing social films. Please don’t put that tag on me,” he concluded.

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.