Ravi Mohan accuses wife Aarti of abuse; calls Keneeshaa Francis his lifeline: ‘She stood by me when I left my home without basic dignity’ (2025)

‘Was not allowed to meet my own parents’

Calling himself a survivor of years of physical, mental, emotional and severe financial abuse, Jayam Ravi said, “I was also caged in isolation from ever meeting my own parents through these years, trapped in a reality that became unbearable despite every sincere attempt to heal and save my marriage. I finally found the strength to walk away from a life that had become unlivable. Choosing to walk away was not a decision I made lightly – And so, I write this to you with a heavy heart.”

In another part of his statement, the Tamil actor shared, “What breaks me most is seeing my children used as tools in a public narrative rooted in financial gain and to sway public sympathy, while I’ve been deliberately kept away from them since our separation. Apart from a single court-mandated meeting last Christmas, all our communication has been gradual but a well structured cut off. Bouncers now accompany them almost everywhere to prevent me from ever seeing or approaching my own children, and you guys question my role as a father?”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ravi Mohan (@iam_ravimohan)

‘Trapped in massive financial loans’

He added, “There is nothing more heartbreaking for a man who worked tirelessly to support only to feed insecurities purely out of affection, than being reduced to a provider, stripped of my voice, my dignity, my own earnings and finances, shares of my assets, my social media accounts, my career decisions, being trapped in massive financial loans as sureties, my father-son bonding, interacting with my own parents and basic rights with the sole intention to selfishly enrich herself and her parents into luxury while ensuring that not a single penny of my earning was sent to my own parents for more than 5 years — the very people who made me who I am today.”

Jayam Ravi warns estranged wife Aarti

In his statement, he also gave an ultimatum to Aarti. He wrote, “Stop our game now. Go ahead with your attention seeking syndrome which made me driver from Prasad to Apollo on a day I was being extremely happy for myself… and more importantly, don’t dare involve my kids in it ever again. I will be a better father + any and all relationships they need from me to be. I will only see you in court for any/all amicable proceedings.”

‘Keneeshaa is my lifeline’

In the same statement, Ravi Mohan also talked about his relationship with Keneeshaa saying, “I will not ever allow even a whisper of disrespect toward her character on her profession.”

He said, “With regards to Keneeshaa Francis, who was initially a friend that chose to save a drowning man, very quickly became a lifeline of support when I had nothing but tears, blood, and the courage to walk away from a life that nearly broke me. She stood by me on the night I left my own home barefoot, in a night suit — when I was stripped of my wallet, my vehicles, documents, my belongings and even my basic dignity. Acknowledging the sensitivities of the situation — Keneesha didn’t hesitate. She didn’t flinch. She simply showed up. She is a beautiful companion, and I assure you this — She carries light.”

Jayam Ravi’s long statement also had a paragraph dedicated to his fans, to whom the actor sincerely thanked for standing by him. “I will hold endless gratitude to each one of you.”

What sparked the controversy?

In September last year, Jayam Ravi shared a post announcing his separation from his wife Aarti. Back then, the actor didn’t give a reason for his separation, requesting privacy. Soon after, his wife claimed she was “blindsided” by the announcement. Recently, after Jayam Ravi was spotted attending a wedding with girlfriend Keneesha in Chennai, Aarti took to her Instagram handle accusing the actor of leaving her in financial distress and not sharing responsibilities of his children. Jayam Ravi and Aarti were married for nearly 16 years and are parents to two sons.

Here’s the complete text of Jayam Ravi’s statement…

Press Statement from Actor Ravi Mohan

While our country faces a greater collective crisis, it pains me to see personal matters litigated in the court of public opinion. We should know better than this. Watching my private life turned into gossip, twisted without truth or compassion, has been deeply traumatic. My silence was not a weakness-It Was Survival. But when my integrity is questioned by those who don’t know my journey or my scars, I must speak.

I have built my career through resilience and hard work. I will not allow anyone from my past ties in marriage to manipulate cheap sympathy for personal gain or borrowed fame. This isn’t a game to me. It’s my life, my truth, and my healing. I remain fully committed to the legal process and trust it will bring truth to light. I will continue to navigate this with dignity, grounded in respect for both – justice and myself.

As an adult and as a survivor of years of physical, mental, emotional, and severe financial abuse, (sad to add) I was also caged in isolation from even meeting my own parents through these years, trapped in a reality that became unbearable despite every sincere attempt to heal and save my marriage, I finally found the strength to walk away from a life that had become unlivable. Choosing to walk away was not a decision made lightly -And so, I write this to you with a heavy heart.

I’ve already opened up to my family, my close friends, and my dearest fans who truly care about me regarding my decision to file for divorce. I made that choice with a genuine wish to protect everyone’s privacy, including my estranged ex wife, and urged people not to speculate or assign blame.

But silence, it seems, is being mistaken for guilt. I now find myself being publicly vilified with false accusations that question not only my character but my role as a father based on recent public appearances. Let me be clear, I categorically deny these fabricated claims. I will continue to stand in my truth, as I always have-with dignity, with resilience, and with faith in justice.
Ps: (the term ex was coined in my heart the minute I chose to leave home, and it will remain so until I breathe my last)

What breaks me most is seeing my children used as tools in a public narrative rooted in financial gain and to sway public sympathy, while I’ve been deliberately kept away from them since our separation. Apart from a single court-mandated meeting last Christmas, all communication has been gradual but a well structured cut off. Bouncers now accompany them almost everywhere to prevent me from even seeing or approaching my own children, and you guys question my role as a father? I only learned, through a third party, nearly a month after my kids were in a car accident – not as a father, but only when my signature was needed for a car repair insurance. I still haven’t been allowed to check in on them. I trust with my prayers and my unconditional love for them that my children will always live a safe, fruitful and the happiest life irrespective of any commotion that they don’t deserve to bear. Albeit, No father deserves this. I have loved and supported my ex wife and family with all I had. I live with hope that soon they will know the truth and understand the strength it took for me as a man and as father to walk away.

I have only decided in full knowledge and understanding of my past circumstances to leave my ex wife in marriage and NOT MY KIDS. My children are my eternal pride and happiness and I will do all things better than the best for the two boys I live my life for. And in any situation even smaller than mine, a strong woman would have held her head high and seen through all trials in the legal format as provided by our constitution and not play with the sympathies of everyone else, who hasn’t been in both our shoes.

There is nothing more heartbreaking for a man who worked tirelessly to support only to feed insecurities purely out of affection, than being reduced to a provider, stripped of my voice, my dignity, my own earnings and finances, shares of my assets, my social media accounts, my career decisions, being trapped in massive financial loans as sureties, my father-son bonding, interacting with my own parents and basic rights with the sole intention to selfishly enrich herself and her parents into luxury while ensuring that not a single penny of my earnings was sent to my own parents for more than 5 years – the very people who made me who I am today. And still, I stayed silent. I endured, acted normal, and kept paying, just to avoid public drama. Yet I was treated like a golden goose, not a husband. My finances, decisions, assets, even my bond with my parents and children were taken from me under the guise of love and used for personal enrichment.

But silence has limits. Despite my choice to walk away peacefully, I had continued to pay for all the liabilities and expenses to the best of my possibilities ignoring outrageous demands in the guise of “lifestyle” which is THE root cause of my financial misery right now. Legal complications, financial strain, and being completely cut off from my children left me with no choice. I had to step away from all my payments after the news of the recent car accident, from control, from manipulation, because I could no longer be sure if any of it was truly for my children’s well-being. I still don’t. And, I assure you, I didn’t walk away to escape. I walked away to survive, and to finally get a chance to live and to protect what little remained of my peace and truth.

People within the film industry know the truth. For years, I faced silent battles and ruthless manipulation behind the scenes, including conveniently coercing me to sign as a surety for her mother’s multi crore loan a year ago. In all that I am going through right now and standing at a place completely stripped of my finances, 10 days ago her mother forced me to act and compensate for the surety I gave for her loans. This is what her and her family are all about. When they need money/surety/signatures they need the name Ravi Mohan. This is the life I struggled living in for the past 16 years. Nevertheless, I am fully confident that I will rise like a Phoenix in no time. When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up! And I’m much prepared to start from here – God leads me in every way.

I make myself very clear – “Stop your game now. Go ahead with your attention seeking syndrome which made me drive from Prasad to Apollo on a day I was being extremely happy for myself.. And more importantly, don’t dare involve my kids in it ever again. I will be a better father + any and all relationships they need from me to be. I will only see you in court for any/all amicable proceedings”.

It is shocking and ironic to witness the narrative being twisted by my estranged ex wife and her evil mentors in order to spin false PR narratives accusing me of financially harassing her and my children with the sole intention to obtain favourable public opinion for selfish reasons of securing financial arrangements and custody of children despite coercing me into giving away half of all my hard- earned assets as recent as a few years back around a time when co-incidentally, rumours falsely linking me with a co-stars was being peddled.

Public records and past interviews paint a very different picture of my conduct – as a husband and as a father. That truth hasn’t changed. I have not ever responded with hatred or aggression, but only with silence, hoping that peace would prevail and for the well-being of my children who should not be dragged unnecessarily by the media.

Healing should happen in courtrooms, not on social media. But controversy seems to be the only currency for those desperate to stay relevant and love to build fame on controversies which has been my estranged ex wife’s, her so-called privileged family (wealth built draining me of my life thus far), and have very well played so since the start of my marriage that was. These people feed off pain and I would know it best since I’ve witnessed the life of my co brother-in-law that faced the same severity. From day one, they’ve thrived on control, image, and chaos and I speak today not for drama, but to reclaim my voice.

With regards to Keneeshaa Francis, who was initially a friend that chose to save a drowning man, very quickly became a lifeline of support when I had nothing but tears, blood, and the courage to walk away from a life that nearly broke me. She stood by me on the night I left my own home barefoot, in a night suit – when I was stripped of my wallet, my vehicles, documents, my belongings and even my basic dignity. Acknowledging the sensitivities of the situation – Keneeshaa didn’t hesitate. She didn’t flinch. She simply showed up. She is a beautiful companion, and I assure you this – She carries light.

She saw all the battles I was fighting – legal, emotional, financial, and chose to be there, not for fame, not for attention, but out of sheer empathy and strength. She reminded me that I carried light and deserved to be happy. And I will only pay this forward to every single person out there fighting silent battles. I hope you find a ‘Light’ in your life too. For what she has done for me, my parents, and my team who kept me going is one for the books and a much respectable one. I will not ever allow even a whisper of disrespect toward her character or her profession.

She is a spiritual therapist – YES, an amazing singer too – and a good one at it. The minute she heard my story in brief at the start, she assured me that she would help me only as a friend then and NOT AS A THERAPIST, as it’s against the law and I more than anyone understand that – having suffered with a family of social defenders and extorters.

People in her line of work often live in silence, bound by NDAs, blamed unfairly. But I know the truth. And those who know me, know my gratitude. And I will say this, if you respect my heart, then you will do the same for Keneeshaa – personally and professionally. I am wise enough to understand who here has taken me for granted and the people who aren’t capable of doing so. No one can be a HOME-WRECKER or destroy my life. Once bitten twice shy is said, but I was bitten a million times and so I Know What I Am Doing. I am a well informed individual and truly hope that all of you will give me unwavering understanding whilst I live for my true calling – ‘Cinema’.

And now, my favourite part as its always been –
To my fans, well-wishers, and the media who refrained from making any premature judgements, I sincerely thank you for standing by me. Your support and understanding means more than words can ever express and I will hold endless gratitude to each one of you. Also to my fans, general public and the media who have expressed disappointment and to others who indulge in making trolls and reels on social media attacking my character and my companion’s and judging us – the sorrow caused to me in the past few days due to such content is nothing compared to the silent trauma I experienced for the past 16 years and I firmly trust in our legal system to provide justice based on evidence and enable me to rebuild my life with my children and ensure they don’t experience what I’ve faced. I now say this without fear, men, too, are victims of abuse, coercion, and emotional manipulation, regardless of fame, success, or professions as much as how women normally experience from their partners. I’ve lived it. And, hence I have decided to not ever go back to such life at any cost.

To everyone who has been through and is going through similar times, Only they can afford to affirm their moves and your circumstances have paved the way for choices that have/are helping you cope through.

This is my last statement on this!! I am however particularly very sure that they will feed off into more havoc, but I as a citizen, will follow and adhere to the justice system in place.

I am divinely happy with the choices I’ve made and I have not ever in my life been at this level of peace and happiness and yet, I am only grateful and beyond.

With Love
Ravi Mohan
‘Live and Let Live’