Pravin Tarde Shuts Down SRK Critics: Humanity Knows No Religion

Studio CarryOnHarry Entertainment Desk | 9 July 2026

When Shah Rukh Khan quietly stepped in to ensure that Marathi film Deool Band 2 made it to the big screen, few could have predicted the storm that would follow — not of controversy, but of conversation. The superstar reportedly waived off the film’s Rs 42 lakh Digital Cinema Package (DCP) cost, a behind-the-scenes act of generosity that only came to light when filmmaker-actor Pravin Tarde publicly disclosed it in a recent interview.

The gesture drew widespread admiration across the industry and among audiences, particularly as Deool Band 2 — a film rooted in the story of a Hindu deity — went on to deliver a remarkable box office performance, reportedly inching towards the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide. For many, it was a textbook example of a senior industry figure using his influence to uplift regional cinema.

However, not everyone received the news warmly. A section of social media users took issue with the religious dimension of the film, questioning why a Muslim actor had chosen to support a project centred on Hindu faith. The criticism spread quickly, with some attempting to frame Khan’s generosity through a communal lens.

Pravin Tarde was having none of it. Addressing the backlash head-on in his interview, the filmmaker-actor firmly pushed back against those who tried to inject religion into what he described as a purely human act. Tarde made it clear that Shah Rukh Khan’s support had nothing to do with faith and everything to do with his commitment to good cinema and his belief in the power of storytelling — regardless of which community or tradition that story draws from.

The episode has since reignited a broader debate about the role of Bollywood’s biggest names in supporting regional film industries, and whether acts of professional solidarity should ever be filtered through a religious prism. For now, the film continues its strong theatrical run, and the conversation around it only amplifies its reach.

In an industry often accused of operating in silos, Shah Rukh Khan’s quiet intervention — and Pravin Tarde’s equally resolute defence of it — stands as a reminder that cinema, at its best, transcends boundaries.

– Entertainment Desk, Studio Carry On Harry

Harry Johal’s Take — Studio CarryOnHarry

it will be wrong to associate everything with religion Sometimes its the sentiment that people have to support a cause like in this case it can be taken as personal gesture by Shahrukh to support filmmaker to realize his film making dream.

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