The director of the hit Marathi film Deool Band 2, Pravin Tarde, has recently spoken out to address the unnecessary controversy around Shah Rukh Khan’s support for his project. The filmmaker had previously revealed that Shah Rukh’s company waived a ₹42 lakh Digital Cinema Package (DCP) fee, a gesture that was important in allowing the film to reach theatres.
The situation began when the Deool Band 2 team found themselves in a financial bind just before their release. According to Tarde, the team had budgeted approximately Rs 12–13 lakh for the DCP process, but the actual bill amounted to around Rs 42–43 lakh. Facing a hurdle in their theatrical release, they approached Shah Rukh’s company seeking a discount.
When the request reached Shah Rukh, he reportedly asked his team if the film was good. Upon learning it was an excellent project, he instructed his team to hand over the DCP immediately, saying they could discuss the payment later. This act of kindness ensured the film’s timely release, after which it went on to become a major box office success, crossing the ₹100 crore mark.
However, once the story went public, a section of social media users began questioning why Shah Rukh had supported a film based on a Hindu deity, trying to turn the act of generosity into a religious debate. In a recent interview with Podkatta, Pravin Tarde hit back at the criticism, questioning the intent behind such discourse. He said, “What is the Hindu-Muslim issue in this? He is a part of the film industry, and so am I.”
He further questioned why a helpful gesture should be ignored due to caste or religion, adding, “The film was ready for release, and we had to clear the dues. He simply said, ‘Give them the DCP first. We’ll sort out the bill later.’ Isn’t that greatness? If someone helps us with such a big heart, should we ignore that kindness because of caste or religion? We must acknowledge it.”
Tarde also made it clear that his gratitude has no political or ideological subtext. He concluded, “As far as Hindutva is concerned, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Thanking Shah Rukh Khan has nothing to do with my Hindutva ideology. A good person is a good person.”
Deool Band 2, which explores the conflict between faith and atheism and touches upon the issue of farmer suicides, features actors like Mohan Joshi and Snehal Tarde in key roles.
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