Director Pravin Tarde has responded to criticism and debate surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s support for his film Deool Band 2, urging people to acknowledge those who contribute to a project’s success rather than questioning their involvement.
His remarks come days after he revealed that Khan had helped the film overcome financial difficulties during post-production.
According to Tarde, the Bollywood superstar waived an outstanding amount of ₹42 lakh at a critical stage of the film’s production, allowing the team to complete post-production work without additional financial strain. The revelation attracted widespread attention, particularly after Deool Band 2 emerged as a major commercial success, reportedly earning more than ₹80 crore worldwide at the box office.
However, the disclosure also sparked mixed reactions on social media and within sections of the film industry. While many praised Khan for supporting a regional-language project, others questioned the emphasis being placed on his contribution. In response, Tarde took to Instagram to address the discussion and defend both the film and those associated with it.
“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,” Tarde wrote. He suggested that attention towards the film increased significantly only after Khan’s name became associated with it. The director also indicated that certain individuals had attempted to obstruct the project during its journey but had failed to do so.
Tarde further emphasised that Deool Band 2 achieved its success primarily because of the dedication and sincerity of the people involved in making it. He argued that the film had progressed without the backing of major industry power centres and that its accomplishments should be viewed as the result of honest effort rather than influence from prominent personalities. At the same time, he maintained that those who contributed meaningfully to the project deserved recognition.
The controversy has highlighted broader conversations about the relationship between regional cinema and Bollywood, as well as the attention generated when leading Hindi film stars become associated with smaller projects. Despite the debate, Deool Band 2 continues to enjoy a successful run, with Tarde expressing gratitude to audiences for supporting the film. His latest comments appear aimed at shifting the focus back to the work behind the movie while acknowledging Khan’s role in helping the project overcome a crucial financial hurdle.