Marathi filmmaker Pravin Tarde recently came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan after the superstar helped secure a theatrical release for his film, Deool Band 2.

The 51-year-old director, who is known for the crime drama Mulshi Pattern, reacted to the ongoing backlash against the Bollywood superstar.

During his recent appearance on the podcast Podkatta, Tarde addressed the criticism directed at the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai actor for supporting a film centered on a Hindu deity.

Speaking exclusively, he said, “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 ₹12-13 lakh, while the bill was around ₹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.”

Later in the interaction, Tarde spoke at length about how the Jawan star played an important role in securing a theatrical release for the film.

He added, “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 the kindness because of caste or religion? We must acknowledge it.”

This comes on the heels of Shah Rukh waiving a ₹42 lakh Digital Cinema Package (DCP) fee for Deool Band 2 to help secure the film’s theatrical release.

Meanwhile, Deool Band 2 has grossed approximately ₹100 crore at the worldwide box office, emerging as the third highest-grossing Marathi film of all time after Raja Shivaji and Sairat.

The Dilwale actor, on the other hand, is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming action-thriller King, which is slated to hit cinemas on December 24.