Ravi Mohan backtracks on acting exit; apologises to fans amid divorce battle

Ravi Mohan has reversed his decision to step away from films, saying he will continue acting despite his ongoing divorce proceedings with estranged wife Aarti Ravi.

The Tamil actor made the announcement while accepting an honour at the JFW Achiever Awards, where he admitted that his earlier decision to put his career on hold had been driven by emotion. Addressing the audience, Ravi apologised to fans and colleagues, saying he no longer intends to distance himself from cinema and is committed to returning to the screen.

His latest remarks mark a significant shift from the stance he took in May, when he declared that he would not act again until his divorce was finalised, citing emotional distress and prolonged public scrutiny over his personal life.

Ravi Mohan apologises to fans and film industry

Reflecting on his decision, Ravi said he realised the announcement had deeply disappointed people who had supported him throughout his career.

"I am turning 46 this year. Twenty-three divided by two, half of my life has been spent in cinema. It's a pity that a small mistake of mine has hurt you all so much. Personal life and professional life are both 50-50 for me, but the emotions in personal life became a bit more," he said.

The actor revealed that conversations with members of the film fraternity prompted him to reconsider.

"I was a bit emotional, but everyone in the industry came up to me and said, 'We'll accept anything you say. But you must never say you're not part of cinema again.' I apologise to all of them," he said.

Assuring fans that he was returning with renewed determination, Ravi added, "I also won't betray my fans anymore. I'll definitely come back. Your happiness, your kindness, your generosity... I plan to return as Ponniyin Selvan or Karathey Babu. To all those who gave me this confidence, I bow my head in gratitude."

Actor says experience sparked conversations on mental health

Ravi also looked back on the emotional press conference he held earlier this year, saying the episode unexpectedly encouraged wider discussions around mental health.

"I think something good came out of this. Many have started talking about mental health. Many who could relate contacted me, which makes me happy. If I am standing in front of you today, smiling happily, it is only because of my fans. With your blessings, my new life continues," he said.

The actor has remained at the centre of public attention in recent months following his separation from Aarti Ravi and, more recently, the end of his relationship with singer-healer Keneeshaa Francis.

Why Ravi Mohan announced his acting hiatus

In May, Ravi announced he was stepping away from acting, saying he could no longer balance his personal struggles with his creative work.

During a tearful press interaction, he said, "Enough is enough. I refrained from opening up all these days. Now, the time has come. People think Ravi Mohan aka Jayam Ravi is a soft person. I have been that way, but not anymore."

Quoting the Tamil proverb Saadhu Miranda Kaadu Kolladhu (it is hard to bear the anger of a soft-natured person), he added, "There are people trying to test my patience. My message to them is, this is my office. Face me if you can."

The actor then broke down while announcing, "Until my divorce comes through, I will not act."

Ravi also spoke candidly about the emotional toll of his marital dispute, claiming he had been unable to meet his children and alleging that he had endured sustained public humiliation.

"They are not letting me meet my sons. My sons are being assisted by bodyguards. I entered marriage against the will of my parents. I am paying the price now for doing that. In fact, I slit my wrists and still showed up at the shoot the next day. That has been my commitment," he said.

"But now I cannot focus on being creative. People, in the name of feminism, are taking undue advantage. I have done films on feminism. And I have been raised well by my parents," he added.

Without naming anyone directly, Ravi also criticised a "three-letter-named" female actor, saying, "The idle actor has no business preaching feminism. After wrecking families, what business does she have talking about feminism in public forums?"

Speaking about his brother-in-law Prasad, who accompanied him during the press conference, Ravi said, "Prasad went through so much in that family just like I did. He detached himself from the family first, while I tried to keep my marriage together for the sake of my sons. I can gather a dozen such pieces of evidence. I will leave it here."

Return to films already signalled

Although Ravi had announced a break from acting, signs of a comeback emerged soon afterwards when filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj welcomed him to the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU) project ‘Benz’. The announcement surprised fans, as it came only days after Ravi had insisted he would not take up acting assignments until his personal issues were resolved.