Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Waived Rs 42 Lakh for Marathi Hit ‘Deool Band 2’

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his production house Red Chillies Entertainment have been credited with giving a crucial financial break to the Marathi film ‘Deool Band 2’ by waiving a Rs 42 lakh bill, allowing the movie to reach theatres. The film has since become a box office phenomenon, crossing Rs 80 crore in India and emerging as one of the highest-grossing Marathi films of all time.

Director Pravin Tarde revealed in an interview that the film’s Digital Cinema Package (DCP) — the format needed for theatrical screening — was estimated at Rs 42 lakh by Red Chillies, far exceeding the makers’ initial budget of around Rs 12 lakh. Unable to arrange the funds, the team approached the production house and explained their situation. The matter eventually reached Shah Rukh Khan, who after learning that the film was a well-made emotional story, instructed his team to “waive off their bill.”

Tarde expressed deep gratitude for the gesture, noting that Khan extended the help without any guarantee of commercial success. “Today, the film is heading towards the Rs 100-crore club, but what Shah Rukh Khan did when the film was nothing will always be remembered,” the director said. The film, made on a budget of Rs 8 to 10 crore, has already earned approximately Rs 81.78 crore in India and Rs 84 crore worldwide, according to industry trackers.

‘Deool Band 2’ is a spiritual sequel to the 2015 film ‘Deool Band’ and stars Snehal Tarde, Mohan Joshi, and Pravin Tarde among others. The movie tackles farmer suicides and explores the conflict between faith and atheism. With its strong theatrical run, it is now among the top five highest-grossing Marathi films and is eyeing the Rs 100 crore club.