I don't produce films to make money: Akshay Kumar

Mumbai, Jan 9 (IANS) Actor-producer Akshay Kumar, who sounded a bit guarded about the fate of his forthcoming film 'Patiala House', Sunday said he doesn't produce films to make money.

'I don't produce films for money. I make those films, which I personally want to make. I don't know the fate of 'Patiala House' but I am very happy to be a part of it and I have enjoyed working in it. I am not worried whether I would make money from it or not,' Akshay told reporters at the music launch of 'Patiala House' at Whistling Woods here.

'Today, I am in a position where returns don't bother me much... I only think that what new I can offer to my audience,' he added.

The actor mentioned that none of the films from his Hari Om Productions has upset him or his distributor so far commercially.

'I have produced eight films so far and none of them were unsuccessful commercially, and neither my distributors had to suffer any losses,' said Akshay.

Akhay maintains that actors like him, Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan cannot venture for films like 'Udaan' or 'Tere Bin Laden' because high box office returns are expected from their films.

'I have seen the business of these kinds of films. I go and watch every film; I understand what the audience wants. When a person like me or Shah Rukh or Salman do a film, we have to collect a certain amount of money in the box office so that the distributors and exhibitors get their money back.'

'So we cannot do this kind of films because there is a very niche audience for such kind of cinema. These films make a maximum of Rs.8 crore. Commercial cinema makes business of Rs.70 crore. Films like 'Dabaang' make Rs.140 crore. So you have to make such kind of films,' said Akshay.

He however believes that in the near future, films like 'Udaan' would cater to a maximum audience.

'A film like 'Udaan' has a certain kind of audience who would go and watch them. Maybe as time progress, more people would start watching these kind of films. In around four years, people would watch only this kind of cinema,' said Akshay.

--Indo-Asian News service

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