Shah Rukh Khan Waives Rs 42 Lakh for Marathi Film Deool Band 2

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan played a pivotal role in the success of Deool Band 2, a Marathi film that has become one of the top five highest-grossing Marathi movies of all time. The film, directed by Pravin Tarde, has earned approximately Rs 81.78 crore at the Indian box office and is now eyeing entry into the Rs 100-crore club.

The spiritual sequel to the 2015 film Deool Band, Deool Band 2 was made on a modest budget of Rs 8-10 crore. The movie, which stars Snehal Tarde and Mohan Joshi, delves into the sensitive issue of farmer suicides while exploring themes of faith and atheism.

However, the film's journey to success was not without challenges. According to Pravin Tarde, a major hurdle arose when the production team approached Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for a Digital Cinema Package (DCP), a format required for screening films in theatres. While the team had budgeted Rs 12 lakh for the process, they were presented with a bill of Rs 42 lakh, an amount they could not afford.

Tarde explained their financial constraints to Red Chillies, emphasizing that Deool Band 2 was a regional Marathi film with limited resources. The matter eventually reached Shah Rukh Khan, who inquired about the project. Upon learning that the film was made by the creators of Mulshi Pattern—a film remade in Hindi as Antim—and that it was a well-crafted emotional story, Shah Rukh decided to waive the bill entirely.

“He simply said, ‘Waive off their bill. It’s a Marathi film. Give them the DCP,’” Tarde recalled. Shah Rukh’s gesture came at a time when the film’s success was uncertain, and the director remains deeply grateful for the superstar’s support.

The filmmaker credited Shah Rukh Khan’s generosity and respect for regional cinema as a key factor in the film’s success. “What Shah Rukh Khan did when the film was nothing, when nobody knew whether it would work or not, will always be remembered. He helped us without any guarantee of success,” Tarde said, adding that he hopes to personally screen the film for Shah Rukh someday.

With its strong box-office performance and critical acclaim, Deool Band 2 has cemented its place as a landmark in Marathi cinema, thanks in part to Shah Rukh Khan’s timely intervention.