SRK waived Rs 42 lakh for Deool Band 2; Marathi film went on to earn Rs 80 crore
Shah Rukh Khan's gesture towards Marathi film Deool Band 2 has come to light after the film emerged as a major bo office success. According
Shah Rukh Khan's gesture towards Marathi film Deool Band 2 has come to light after the film emerged as a major bo office success. According to filmmaker Pravin Tarde, the actor asked his company, Red Chillies Entertainment, to waive nearly Rs 42 lakh in dues linked to the film's Digital Cinema Package (DCP), helping the makers release the film at a crucial stage. The film has since gone on to earn more than Rs 80 crore at the box office. Read Full Story Speaking to Abhijat Marathi Filmy, Tarde recalled that the team had initially budgeted around Rs 12 lakh for the DCP process, only to receive an estimate of nearly Rs 42 lakh. The DCP is the format required for films to be screened in cinemas. "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," Tarde said. He added that the amount waived was in the Rs 42-45 lakh range. The filmmaker said the matter eventually reached Shah Rukh Khan, who enquired about the project before making a decision. Tarde claimed that Khan's team informed him that the film was being made by the team behind Mulshi Pattern, a project the actor was familiar with because it was later remade as Antim. After learning more about Deool Band 2, including the fact that the makers could not afford the DCP charges despite the package being ready, Khan reportedly stepped in.
Tarde said Shah Rukh's response was immediate. "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." He further noted that Shah Rukh extended the support at a time when nobody knew whether the film would succeed commercially. Tarde said that while Deool Band 2 is now heading towards the Rs 100-crore mark and receiving widespread appreciation, Khan's willingness to help when the project had no guarantee of success would always be remembered. Calling the gesture invaluable, he said he would remain grateful to the actor and hoped to personally screen the film for him someday.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Deool Band 2 has earned about Rs 81.78 crore at the Indian box office so far. The spiritual sequel to the 2015 film is written and directed by Pravin Tarde. It stars Snehal Tarde in the lead role, while veteran actor Mohan Joshi reprises his role as Swami Samarth from the original film. The story deals with farmer suicides and explores the relationship between faith and atheism, while its theatrical run has now been matched by Tarde's account of the help the film received before release. Ends
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