Just weeks after director Pravin Tarde revealed that Shah Rukh Khan had waived a Rs 42 lakh Digital Cinema Package (DCP) bill to help ‘Deool Band 2’ secure a theatrical release, the Marathi film has crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at the worldwide box office. While many applauded Shah Rukh’s generosity, others questioned why a Muslim actor had supported a film centred on a Hindu deity. Tarde has now hit back at the criticism, insisting that kindness should never be viewed through the lens of religion.Tarde recalled how the support came through. He said in an interview with Podkatta, “What is the Hindu-Muslim issue in this? He is a part of the film industry, and so am I. We approached his company seeking a discount because we only had Rs 12–13 lakh, while the bill was around Rs 43 lakh. Shah Rukh asked his team whether the film was good. They told him it was an excellent film, and he immediately instructed them to hand over the DCP, saying we could discuss the payment later.”Explaining further, he said the film was ready for release but the dues were still pending. “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 dismissed claims that thanking Shah Rukh Khan contradicted his ideological beliefs. “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.”Earlier, in an interview with Abhijat Marathi Filmy, Tarde had detailed the financial hurdle his team faced before the release of the film. “The bill came to Rs 42 lakh. We simply didn’t have that kind of money, nor did we know where to arrange it from. We approached Red Chillies and explained that ours was a Marathi film with a limited budget, but we wanted to give it a wide release.”According to the filmmaker, Shah Rukh’s decision was immediate. “He simply said, ‘Waive off their bill. It’s a Marathi film. Give them the DCP. We can sort out the payments later. If it’s a good film, let it release.’ 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.”His remarks, however, also sparked criticism from some sections, with detractors accusing him of drawing unnecessary attention to a Bollywood superstar instead of celebrating the film’s Marathi identity.Responding to the backlash, Tarde posted a strongly worded note on Instagram. “I have 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. Some people had already tried hard to stop this film, but they couldn’t. So now, why fight it indirectly? This film has come this far without the backing of any so-called big names or influential figures. It has reached here because the effort behind it was honest and sincere. Thank you, everyone.”He also referenced a line by celebrated Marathi poet Vinda Karandikar, saying its message was that no one becomes greater by denying someone else the credit they deserve. “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 acknowledge it openly and appreciate them publicly.”With worldwide earnings now surpassing Rs 100 crore, ‘Deool Band 2’ has emerged as the third highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, behind ‘Raja Shivaji’ and ‘Sairat’.