Deool Band 2 has emerged as one of the biggest success stories in Marathi cinema. Made on a reported budget of Rs 8 to 10 crore, the film has already earned more than Rs 80 crore at the box office and is now counted among the five highest grossing Marathi films of all time. However, before reaching theatres, the film faced a major challenge that could have affected its release.
Director Pravin Tarde recently revealed that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan played an important role in helping the film during a difficult stage. Speaking to Abhijat Marathi Filmy, Tarde shared how the makers struggled to arrange money for a Digital Cinema Package, commonly known as DCP. A DCP is the digital format required for screening films in theatres.
According to Tarde, the team had initially set aside around Rs 12 lakh for the process. However, they were later informed that the cost would be nearly Rs 42 lakh. The amount was far beyond their budget.
Recalling the situation, 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.”
The request eventually reached Shah Rukh Khan. Tarde explained that the actor first asked his technical team about the film and its makers. Since Mulshi Pattern was later remade as Antim by Salman Khan, Shah Rukh was already familiar with their work.
Sharing what happened next, Tarde said, “He asked his technical team about the matter. They told him it was a film by the makers of Mulshi Pattern. Since Mulshi Pattern was later remade as Antim by Salman Khan, Shah Rukh was aware of our work. He then enquired about Deool Band 2. His team told him it was a well made emotional film and that the makers wanted the DCP but couldn’t afford the cost. The DCP was ready, but it hadn’t been handed over because the dues were pending.”
According to Tarde, Shah Rukh’s response was immediate. He recalled, “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.”
The filmmaker said he remains deeply thankful for the support, especially because the help came at a time when nobody knew whether the film would become successful. He added, “Today, the film is heading towards the Rs 100 crore club and everyone is appreciating it. But 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. I will forever be grateful to him.”
Tarde also revealed that he hopes to personally screen the film for Shah Rukh Khan in the future.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Deool Band 2 has earned around Rs 81.78 crore at the Indian box office so far. Written and directed by Pravin Tarde, the film stars Snehal Tarde in the lead role, while veteran actor Mohan Joshi reprises his role as Swami Samarth from the original film. The story addresses the issue of farmer suicides while also exploring the relationship between faith and atheism.
The film’s strong box office performance has received widespread attention, but the director’s recent revelation has also highlighted how a timely act of support helped the project reach audiences in the first place.