Sujatha Vijayakumar with Aarti Ravi and Ravi Mohan
| Photo Credit: @sujataavijaykumar/Instagram

Sujatha Vijayakumar, producer and mother of Aarti Ravi, on Saturday (May 17), denied the allegations of financial exploitation that her estranged son-in-law and actor Ravi Mohan had levied against her. This comes days after Ravi’s public appearance with his rumoured girlfriend Keneesha Francise led to an online back-and-forth between the actor and his estranged wife Aarti Ravi.

In a statement posted on social media, Sujatha said that she is forced to speak publicly for the first time in her 25-year career as a film producer since her silence “has now been misconstrued as manipulation.” The producer recounted making Adangamaru with Ravi, a venture that failed at the box office. “Yet, Mr. Jayam Ravi continued to insist that I produce more films for him, and I obliged.”

Sujatha then revealed that she had borrowed nearly Rs. 100 crores from financiers to produce three of Ravi’s films, Adangamaru, Bhoomi and Siren, of which 25% was allocated towards the actor’s remuneration. She went on to deny Ravi’s allegation that she used his name as surety for these loans. “I would never misuse his name, not even if he were just an actor. Being my son-in-law, how could I ever jeopardize his future like that? In fact, to protect him, I signed countless documents myself – sometimes on blank sheets handed over by financiers, sometimes without knowing what came next, all to ensure that his name was never burdened,” she added.

Stating that her attempts to reach out “as a mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother” have been misinterpreted as attempts to exploit financially, Sujatha added that these false allegations only tarnish the image Ravi has built over the years. “You have called me ‘Mother’ all these years. As your mother-in-law, my only wish is to see my daughter and my grandchildren live in a happy and united home. No mother can bear to see her daughter lose her family and live in sorrow. I am living through that pain today,” she added.

For the unversed, after his appearance with Keneesha, Aarti penned an emotional note calling out Ravi for walking away “from the very responsibilities he once promised to honour.” Aarti also alleged that he abandoned his two sons. Shortly later, the actor responded with a four-page statement and denied Aarti’s claims.

In the letter, Ravi alleged that he was coerced to sign as surety to Sujatha’s 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,” he wrote.

Ravi announced separation from Aarti on September 09, 2024. The two are parents to Aarav and Ayaan.