Won't act until my divorce comes through: Tamil actor Ravi Mohan breaks down

Tamil actor Ravi Mohan turned emotional during a press meet in Chennai on Saturday as he declared that he would not return to acting until his divorce from estranged wife Aarti Ravi is finalised. The actor, also known as Jayam Ravi, broke his silence amid the escalating public dispute surrounding his marriage and his relationship with singer-spiritual therapist Keneeshaa Francis.

This emotional outburst came after Keneeshaa Francis wrote a cryptic note hinting at ending her current relationship with Ravi and leaving Chennai altogether, giving up her career as a musician and a therapist. Over the past two years, Keneeshaa and Ravi drew criticism on social media following their public appearances at events and PDA (public display of affection) on social media during his ongoing divorce.

At the press meet, he addressed Keneeshaa leaving him, and said, “You have sent Keneeshaa away... I wish her a good life,"referring to the cyberbullying that allegedly forced her to take the decision of calling it quits.

He alleged that he had faced “unnecessary humiliation” for years at the hands of his wife and her family and said he could no longer remain silent about the ongoing controversy.

Keneesha's post on Instagram:

Why did Ravi Mohan say he will stop acting?

Addressing the media, Ravi Mohan said the public scrutiny and cyberbullying over the past two years had taken a toll on him. “Until my divorce comes through, I will not act. I am not able to. Whenever I get my divorce, my life will be normal again. Whenever this cyberbullying stops, I will return,” he said.

Watch the video here:

The actor added that people often viewed him as soft-spoken but claimed his patience was now being tested by people who he did not name. Referring to a Tamil proverb about the anger of a calm person being difficult to handle, he said he had stayed silent for long enough and that it was his time to speak out regarding everything that’s been going on in his life.

Ravi also alleged that he was “kept like a slave” by his wife and her family for years and claimed he had evidence to prove his innocence.

What did Ravi Mohan say about his family?

Without naming individuals directly, Ravi Mohan accused certain people of interfering in his personal life and publicly commenting on their marital issues in public. During his speech, he referred to the third person as ‘idly nadigai (an actor named after idly)’, which many perceived to be Khushbu Sundar. In Tamil Nadu, a soft and fluffy variety of idly was popularly nicknamed “Khushbu idly” after actor Khushbu Sundar. The actor-politician has been a family friend of Aarti and her mother, Sujatha Vijayakumar, for decades.

He also alleged that he was being prevented from meeting his sons, Aarav and Ayaan.

Ravi also said that he entered into his marriage with what he called a ‘death wish’ after his wife blackmailed him by slitting her wrist. He alleged that he was forced to do the same thing now by slitting his wrist owing to the pressure he had been facing for the past two years. Despite the problems, he said, he still reported to film shoots on time the following day, calling it proof of his professional commitment.

How did Aarti Ravi and Khushbu react?

A day after Keneeshaa posted her cryptic note about leaving Ravi, Aarti Ravi shared a strongly worded Instagram note warning against mistaking her “dignified silence” for weakness. She said she would step forward with “the truth” if needed to protect her children and dignity. Actor Khushbu Sundar responded to Aarti’s post by calling her a “lioness with her cubs”.

Aarti's post on Instagram:

After Ravi’s indirect dig, Khushbu also posted a cryptic message on X, possibly a reply to Ravi’s accusations against her, leading to widespread speculation online.

Take a look at Khushbu's post:

Inside their divorce battle

In September 2024, Ravi Mohan and Aarti were embroiled in an ugly social media spat after the actor announced his decision to separate from her. Around the same time, Ravi and his alleged partner, Keneeshaa, made a public appearance at a Tamil film producer’s family wedding, which sparked rumours about the nature of their relationship. Many questioned Ravi for pursuing a relationship while his divorce was ongoing and criticised Keneeshaa by calling her 'homewrecker'.

Two years ago, speaking to DT Next, Keneeshaa denied rumours of an affair with Ravi and alleged that Aarti and her family had subjected the actor to abuse. She also clarified that she first met Ravi in a professional capacity as his therapist but later suggested he seek help from a different professional and decided to support him as a friend.

Making serious allegations against Aarti and her family, Keneeshaa claimed, “But, as a therapist, I can tell you that the pain Jayam Ravi's family has put him through is greater than the pain of losing his parents. It was extremely painful for me to hear about his struggles with Aarti and her parents. No one deserves that kind of abuse, regardless of gender, and I can present all the evidence in a court of law, with or without Ravi’s permission, based on notes from our therapy sessions.”

In 2025, Ravi and Aarti shared statements levelling serious allegations against each other. However, they have removed their statements about their marital dispute from their respective social media pages. This move came after the High Court ordered them to refrain from sharing defamatory posts against each other.

Meanwhile, their divorce case is currently before the family court.