Prabhu declares in High Court that he is not responsible for his brother Ramkumar's debt

Actor Prabhu has firmly stated in the Chennai High Court that he cannot be held accountable for the debt incurred by his elder brother, Ramkumar . The controversy stems from the production of the film 'Jagajala Killadi', backed by Eesan Productions, which had actors Vishnu Vishal and Nivetha Pethuraj in lead roles. The company, involving actor Dushyanth, grandson of Sivaji Ganesan , and his wife Abirami as stakeholders, had borrowed Rs 3.74 crore from Thanabhakiyam Enterprises. However, failure to repay the amount, along with interest, escalated the total to Rs 9.39 crore.

Sivaji Ganesan’s home targeted for seizure

As a result, an arbitrator ruled in May 2024 that all rights to 'Jagajala Killadi' should be transferred to Thanabhakiyam Enterprises for debt settlement. When this directive was not followed, the creditor approached the High Court, seeking permission to seize and auction properties associated with Ramkumar’s father, the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan. The court subsequently approved the confiscation of Annai Illam, Sivaji Ganesan’s iconic residence, leading Prabhu to file a petition against the order. He argued that the seized property legally belonged to him, not Ramkumar, and urged the court to revoke the decision.

Prabhu challenges court’s debt settlement suggestion

During the recent hearing before Justice Abdul Quddhose, Prabhu’s lawyer contended that freezing properties worth Rs 150 crore over a Rs 3 crore debt was unjust. According to News 18, the defense emphasized that Prabhu had never borrowed money in his life and had no involvement in Ramkumar’s financial liabilities. The judge, however, questioned why Prabhu, as Ramkumar’s brother, could not settle the debt and recover it later. In response, Prabhu’s legal team firmly rejected the idea, arguing that Ramkumar had borrowed from multiple sources and that Prabhu could not be forced to take responsibility.

Next hearing set for April 8

Given the complexities involved, the court has now postponed the hearing to April 8 for further deliberation. The case remains critical as it involves one of Tamil cinema’s most respected family legacies, with Prabhu fighting to protect his rightful ownership of Annai Illam.