Madras High Court sends actor Ravi Mohan's ₹15 crore dispute to arbitration

The Madras High Court has passed all pending applications—including disputes over security deposits and asset attachments—to an arbitral tribunal already constituted to resolve the ₹15 crore financial row between actor Ravi Mohan and production house Bobby Touch Gold Universal Private Limited.

A Second Division Bench comprising Justices M. Sundar and Mummineni Sudheer Kumar disposed of an original side appeal filed by Ravi Mohan challenging a single judge's July 23, 2025 order that had asked him to furnish security for ₹5.90 crore. The referral was made with the consent of both parties' counsel on Tuesday.

Rival claims over terminated film deal

Bobby Touch Gold Universal had approached the High Court in July accusing Ravi Mohan of failing to return a ₹6 crore advance paid in September 2024 for two films, after the agreement was terminated. The production house sought security for ₹5.9 crore and an injunction restraining the actor from producing a movie titled Bro Code or working with other producers.

Ravi Mohan countered with his own applications claiming ₹15 crore in losses caused by delays in commencing the shoot. After adjusting the advance, he demanded ₹9 crore in compensation and sought a court order directing the production house to furnish security for that amount and to refrain from alienating rights to its film Chennai City Gangsters.

Single judge's order and appeal

Justice Abdul Quddhose dismissed the actor's applications on the ground that his claim for damages could not attract interim relief until arbitral proceedings concluded. The production house withdrew its request for an injunction against Ravi Mohan's professional activities, focusing only on securing the ₹5.9 crore.

Finding that the producer's contractual claim warranted interim protection, unlike the actor's damages plea, Justice Quddhose directed Ravi Mohan to furnish the security. The actor then escalated the matter to the Division Bench.

The Bench noted that a retired High Court judge has already been appointed as sole arbitrator and ruled that the tribunal will now decide all pending applications, including those related to security, property attachment and interim orders.

Source: The Hindu