Producer N M Badusha Breaks Silence on Hareesh Kanaran's Allegations
Film production controller N M Badusha has finally addressed the serious allegations made by actor Hareesh Kanaran, who claimed Badusha took Rs 20 lakh from him and did not return the money. In a recent press conference, Badusha strongly denied these accusations, stating that the full story is being twisted and he is being unfairly targeted.
Dispute Over Financial Transaction Amount
Badusha confirmed that he did receive money from Hareesh Kanaran, but clarified that the amount was Rs 14 lakh rather than the Rs 20 lakh claimed by the actor. According to Badusha, when Hareesh asked for the money back, he promptly returned Rs 7 lakh. The producer explained that the remaining amount was not considered a loan but rather payment for services rendered.
"For five years, I handled Hareesh's dates for 72 films. I never took any payment from him for that work and he also never felt the need to pay me," Badusha stated. "Later when I was going through a very difficult financial situation, I asked him for money. I believed that amount could be treated as my payment for managing his dates all those years."
Badusha further revealed that during his financial difficulties, two other artists supported him by providing Rs 20 lakh as financial assistance, demonstrating that he had other sources of support during that challenging period.
ARM Movie Controversy and Payment Demands
The producer also addressed the controversy surrounding the film 'Ajayante Randam Moshanam' (ARM). According to Badusha, Hareesh was offered a role in the film for a payment of Rs 5 lakh, but the actor was dissatisfied with this amount and demanded Rs 15 lakh instead.
"When Hareesh was offered the role in 'ARM', he asked for more money. The agreed amount was Rs 5 lakh but Hareesh demanded Rs 15 lakh as payment. Because of this, the producer decided to look for another actor," Badusha explained.
Badusha made strong comments about Hareesh's professional behavior, suggesting that the actor has caused problems on multiple film sets, which might explain why he is not receiving many film offers currently. "No one can stay in the spotlight forever. When new talents come forward, the older generation should step aside," he remarked.
The producer added that he attempted to contact Hareesh multiple times after the issue arose, but received no response from the actor.
Family Harassment and Social Media Fallout
Badusha revealed that the allegations have severely impacted his family, who faced significant cyber attacks after Hareesh made his claims public. "After Hareesh made the allegation, my family went through heavy cyber attacks. My son even stopped going to college, and hateful comments were posted on my daughter's social media too," he shared.
The producer stated they plan to take legal action against these attacks and expressed his belief that there might be a conspiracy behind the entire situation. "We will take legal action against all this. I strongly feel there is a conspiracy behind it," Badusha emphasized.
Clarification Regarding Nikhila Vimal's Remarks
When questioned about actress Nikhila Vimal's recent comments regarding unpaid dues in the film industry, Badusha clarified that his name was dragged into the discussion without justification. "Nikhila did not mention my name. Whenever there is any comment related to cinema, my name inevitably appears in the social media discussion beneath it," he explained.
Badusha further noted that while he worked with Nikhila Vimal on four films, he was not the producer on those projects. "I worked on those films as part of the crew. When she says a producer owes her money, that does not automatically mean it was me," he added, seeking to distance himself from those particular allegations.
The ongoing dispute between Badusha and Hareesh Kanaran highlights the complex financial and professional relationships within the Malayalam film industry, with both parties presenting conflicting narratives about their financial transactions and professional interactions.
