Toilet: Ek Prem Katha producer responds to Jaya Bachchan’s 'flop' remark; says, 'What is cinema if it only sticks to the expected?'

Prerna Arora defends Toilet film success after Jaya Bachchan's flop remark

Veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan recently took a dig at Akshay Kumar’s 2017 hit Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, mocking its title and calling it a "flop film." However, the film’s producer, Prerna Arora, has strongly defended its success, both commercially and socially, while expressing disappointment over Jaya’s comments.

Speaking at the India TV Conclave, Jaya Bachchan questioned the choice of the film’s title, saying, "Just look at the title of the film; I would never go to watch a film with such a name. Yeh koi naam hai? Is that really a name?" She further asked the audience if they would watch a film with such a title, and when only a handful raised their hands, she quipped, "Yeh toh flop hai (This is a flop).”

In response to Jaya’s comments, producer Prerna Arora expressed her admiration for the veteran actress but was visibly hurt by her remarks. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, she said, "Let me first say that I am a huge, HUGE fan of Jayaji. She is the ultimate for me. I can watch Guddi, Uphaar, Abhimaan, and Mili anytime and feel happy about life. So, it is very hurtful to hear her call our film a flop."

Prerna was quick to highlight the film’s financial success, countering Jaya’s claims. "Ma’am should check the box office figures. Our film was one of the five biggest hits of 2017. It earned a very handsome profit."

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha grossed a remarkable Rs 316.97 crore worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

Prerna also addressed the unconventional title, admitting that it was a bold choice. "We weren’t sure about the title at first. Having the word ‘Toilet’ in a film’s name seemed risky, especially in a love story. But eventually, we decided to take that risk. What is cinema if it only sticks to the expected?"

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She added, "Jaya Ma’am took risks too. She did Doosri Sita, where she played a woman who murders her abusive husband." She even extended an invitation to the veteran actress, saying, "I would love to show her our film if she would permit."

Directed by Shree Narayan Singh, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was not just a commercial success but also carried an important social message about sanitation and the eradication of open defecation in rural India. Akshay Kumar played Keshav, a man who goes to great lengths to build a toilet at home to win back his wife, Jaya (played by Bhumi Pednekar).