Marathi film ‘Deool Band 2’, directed by Pravin Tarde, has been putting up an impressive show at the box office in recent days. As per industry tracker Sacnilk, the film has raked in over Rs 82.19 crore in India, a remarkable feat given that its production budget was reportedly just Rs 8-10 crore. The film has also been in the news for another reason: director Pravin Tarde recently claimed that Shah Rukh Khan had come to the rescue of the project at a critical point when the team was struggling with financial difficulties.
Pravin Tarde hits back at critics over Shah Rukh Khan controversy
However, his comments did not go down well with everyone and sparked a wave of criticism online. Responding to the backlash, Tarde took to Instagram to post a video addressing the controversy. “I’ve been travelling across Maharashtra all this while, yet nobody seemed to notice me. But the moment I mentioned the name of a Bollywood star, everyone’s pens started moving at once. Some people had already tried hard to stop the film, but they couldn’t. So now, why are they fighting it through indirect means? This film has come this far without the backing of any so-called big names or influential figures, because the efforts behind it have been honest and sincere. Thank you, everyone,” he said.
Pravin Tarde quotes Vinda Karandikar on giving credit where it’s due
Tarde also drew from the words of renowned Marathi writer Vinda Karandikar, quoting a line from one of his poems that roughly translates to: “Your stature does not increase by denying someone their due. Always remember to give credit to those who deserve it. Whether it’s Pitya (the character in the film) or Shah Rukh Khan, it doesn’t matter. If someone has helped you, you should be able to openly acknowledge it and appreciate them publicly.”
Pravin Tarde reveals how Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies helped with DCP
For those who missed the backstory, Tarde had earlier spoken about how the team reached out to Shah Rukh Khan’s production house Red Chillies Entertainment for a Digital Cinema Package (DCP), which is the digital format needed for a theatrical release. The makers had initially budgeted around Rs 12 lakh for it, but were caught off guard when the revised quote came in at nearly Rs 42 lakh, a figure well beyond what they could afford. Sharing the details in an interview with Abhijat Marathi Filmy, Tarde said, “The bill came to Rs 42 lakh. We didn’t have that kind of money, nor did we have any source from where we could arrange it. We approached Red Chillies and explained our situation. We told them that it was a Marathi film, a regional film, and our budget was limited. But we wanted to release it on a large scale and requested their support.”
Shah Rukh Khan waived off ‘Deool Band 2’s’ bill, says Pravin Tarde
Tarde revealed that the request eventually made its way to Shah Rukh Khan himself, whose team briefed him that while the film was a heartfelt and well-crafted emotional drama, the makers simply could not afford the DCP. According to Tarde, SRK’s response came without any hesitation. “He simply said, ‘Waive off their bill.’ He told them, ‘It’s a Marathi film. Give them the DCP. We can sort out the payments later. If it’s a good film, give them the DCP.‘ They showed tremendous respect towards Marathi cinema. For him, the film was more important than the money. I credit all these people for the success of the film.” Tarde also expressed his wish to personally arrange a screening of the film for Shah Rukh Khan.
About ‘Deool Band 2’
Helmed by Pravin Tarde, ‘Deool Band 2’ features Snehal Tarde in the lead role alongside veteran actor Mohan Joshi, who returns as Swami Samarth, a character he had played in the original film. The story tackles the deeply sensitive issue of farmer suicides while also exploring the age-old conflict between faith and atheism.
