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Tamil star ‘Jayam’ Ravi Mohan breaks down during press meet, says he ‘won’t return to acting until divorce’
What began as whispers around a troubled celebrity marriage has now erupted into one of Tamil cinema’s most public and emotionally charged controversies. Amid ongoing speculation around his divorce, alleged relationship rumours and relentless social media scrutiny, Tamil actor Ravi Mohan broke down during a press interaction in Chennai on Saturday and made a startling announcement — he would stay away from acting until his divorce from estranged wife Aarti Ravi is legally finalised.
The actor, popularly known as Jayam Ravi, spoke at length about the emotional toll the controversy has taken on him, while also addressing his bond with singer and spiritual therapist Keneeshaa Francis, who has also been dragged into the public debate over the past two years.
Keneeshaa’s Cryptic Message Triggers Fresh Speculation
The press meet took place shortly after Keneeshaa Francis shared a cryptic note online, hinting at ending her current relationship with Ravi, leaving Chennai and stepping away from her work as a musician and therapist. Over the last two years, Ravi and Keneeshaa have frequently faced criticism online due to their public appearances together and social media PDA during the actor’s ongoing divorce proceedings.
Speaking about the backlash directed at her, Ravi said, “You have sent Keneeshaa away… I wish her a good life,” suggesting that constant cyberbullying had pushed her to make the decision. He also alleged that he had endured “unnecessary humiliation” for years at the hands of his wife and her family, adding that he could no longer remain silent about the controversy.
Why Ravi Mohan Said He Will Stop Acting
Addressing the media, Ravi said the relentless scrutiny and online attacks had severely affected his mental state over the last two years.
“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.
The actor noted that people often viewed him as calm and soft-spoken, but added that his patience was now being tested. Referring to a Tamil proverb about the anger of a quiet person being difficult to handle, Ravi said he had remained silent for long enough and now wanted to speak openly about everything happening in his life.
HUGE 🚨 Tamil Actor Ravi Mohan broke down on Camera.
“I am a quiet person. So, everyone thinks I am weak”
“I am quitting acting until I get my divorce” 😳
“I am being prevented from meeting my own children”
“To this day, I don’t have a single personal bank account. I had only… https://t.co/Z2jRMcZmbc pic.twitter.com/OS87tC5x2g
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) May 16, 2026
He further alleged that he had been “kept like a slave” by his wife and her family for years and claimed he possessed evidence to prove his innocence.
Ravi Mohan Makes Allegations Against Family
Without naming anyone directly, Ravi accused certain individuals of interfering in his personal life and publicly discussing his marital issues. During his speech, he referred to a third person as ‘idly nadigai’, which many interpreted as a reference to Khushbu Sundar.
The phrase sparked speculation online because a soft variety of idly in Tamil Nadu was once popularly nicknamed “Khushbu idly” after the actor-politician, who has long been considered close to Aarti Ravi and her mother, Sujatha Vijayakumar. Ravi also alleged that he was being prevented from meeting his sons, Aarav and Ayaan.
In another startling claim, the actor said he entered the marriage with what he described as a ‘death wish’ after his wife allegedly blackmailed him by slitting her wrist. Ravi further alleged that the pressure and emotional strain of the last two years had forced him into a similar situation. Despite the turmoil, he said he continued attending film shoots on time, calling it proof of his dedication and professionalism.
Aarti Ravi and Khushbu Respond
A day after Keneeshaa shared her cryptic note, Aarti Ravi posted a strongly worded statement on Instagram, warning people not to mistake her “dignified silence” for weakness. She added that she would come forward with “the truth” if required to protect her dignity and children. Khushbu Sundar reacted to Aarti’s post by calling her a “lioness with her cubs”.
Following Ravi’s indirect remarks at the press meet, Khushbu also posted a cryptic message on X, leading to widespread speculation online that it was aimed at the actor.
Inside Ravi Mohan and Aarti’s Divorce Battle
The dispute between Ravi and Aarti intensified publicly in September 2024 after the actor announced his decision to separate from her. Around the same period, Ravi and Keneeshaa attended a Tamil film producer’s family wedding together, fuelling rumours about their relationship. The appearance led to criticism online, with many questioning the PS-II actor for moving on publicly while the divorce proceedings were still underway. Keneeshaa, too, faced severe trolling and was labelled a ‘homewrecker’ by critics on social media.
Earlier, while speaking to DT Next, Keneeshaa had denied rumours of an affair with Ravi and claimed she initially met him professionally as his therapist. She said she later advised him to seek help from another professional before continuing to support him as a friend.
Making serious allegations against Aarti and her family at the time, Keneeshaa had said, “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 separate statements levelling serious allegations against each other. However, both later removed the posts from social media after the High Court directed them to avoid sharing defamatory content online during the ongoing legal proceedings.
