A few weeks after the director Pravin Tarde revealed it Shah Rukh Khan had left a Rs 42 lakh Digital Cinema Package (DCP) bill to help ‘Deool Band 2’ theatrical release, the Marathi film has crossed Rs 100 crore at the international box office. While many appreciated Shah Rukh’s generosity, some questioned why a Muslim actor supported a film about a Hindu deity. Tarde has now pushed back on the criticism, insisting that kindness should not be seen through religious eyes.Tarde recalled how the aid went. He said in an interview with Podkatta, “What is the Hindu-Muslim issue in this? He is part of the film industry, and so am I. We approached his company to seek a discount because we had Rs 12-13 lakh, while the amount was close to Rs 43 lakh. Shah Rukh asked his team if the film was good. He told him that it was a very good film, and immediately told them to give the DCP, saying that we would discuss the payment.“Elaborating further, he said that the film is ready for release but the payments are still pending. “The film was ready for release, and we had to clear the bill. They just said, ‘Give them the DCP first. We’ll settle the bill later.’ Isn’t that great? If someone has helped us with such a big heart, should we ignore that kindness because of caste or religious differences? We have to accept it. “Tarde also refuted claims that thanking Shah Rukh Khan was against his beliefs. “As far as Hindutva is concerned, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Praising Shah Rukh Khan is not in line with my Hindutva views. A good man is a good man.”Earlier, in an interview with Abhijat Marathi Filmy, Tarde spoke about the financial crisis his team faced before releasing the film. “The bill came to Rs 42 lakh. It’s just that we didn’t have that kind of money, and we didn’t know where to fix it. We went to Red Chillies and explained that our film was a low-budget Marathi film, but we wanted a big release.According to the producer of the film, Shah Rukh’s decision was a quick one. “They just said, ‘Remove their bill. It’s a Marathi film. Give them the DCP. We can arrange the payment later. If it’s a good film, release it.’ He showed great respect for Marathi cinema. For him, the film was more important than money. I thank all these people for the success of this film. “His statement, however, also drew criticism from some quarters, with critics accusing him of drawing undue attention to the Bollywood superstar instead of celebrating Marathi cinema.In response to the controversy, Tarde wrote a strong statement on Instagram. “I’ve been walking through it Maharashtra all this time, yet no one sees me. But as soon as I mentioned the Bollywood star’s name, everyone’s pens started moving. Some people had already tried to ban the film, but failed. So, why deal with it indirectly? The film has made it this far without any celebrity or celebrity support. It has reached this point because his efforts were honest and sincere. Thank you, everyone.“He also quoted a line by famous Marathi poet Vinda Karandikar, saying that his message is that no one becomes great by denying others the respect they deserve. “Whether it’s Pitya (actor) or Shah Rukh Khan, it doesn’t matter. If someone has helped you, you should acknowledge it openly and appreciate it openly.”With an international gross of over Rs 100 crore, ‘Deool Band 2’ has emerged as the third highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, behind ‘Raja Shivaji’ and ‘Sairat’.