'Hareesh, then why didn’t Dharmajan say it publicly'; Director John Ditto defends producer N.M. Badusha

The controversy surrounding actor Hareesh Kanaran’s accusation against production controller and producer N.M. Badusha is getting intense. Now, the director John Ditto publicly responded through a strongly-worded note on his social media handle.Hareesh had earlier claimed that Badusha borrowed Rs 20 lakh from him and later removed him from several films, including Ajayan’s Second Theft, allegedly out of resentment when he asked for the money to be returned. He also stated that false rumours were spread in the industry to damage his career. In his Facebook note, John Ditto said financial transactions between colleagues in cinema are common and do not become problematic unless someone chooses to shame the other publicly. Reacting directly to Hareesh’s comments, the 'Sahapadi 1975' director wrote: “Hareesh says Badusha borrowed Rs 20 lakh from him and did not return it on time. When he asked for the money back, he was removed from many films, including ARM.”The director insisted he never felt Badusha was a person who cheats anyone, adding that the pressure of film production often forces makers to borrow money with the intention of returning it later. He also highlighted that Dharmajan Bolgatty too had lent money, but never publicly spoke against Badusha.Slamming Hareesh’s narrative about being removed from films, Ditto wrote, “Hareesh, the statement that you came to know you were cast only after the movie was released is absolute drama.” He added that if a personal issue exists, a director naturally prefers not to collaborate, especially in big-budget films. “You are not an irreplaceable actor in Malayalam cinema,” he remarked.The director added that this controversy has caused heavy damage to Badusha’s reputation. “Badusha will surely return the Rs 20 lakh he borrowed. But even if he does, will you be able to undo the damage you have caused to his reputation?” He concluded by urging the industry to adopt stronger financial discipline and advised Badusha to settle debts and move forward responsibly.