Cinema VinesIn a dramatic turn that has captured the attention of Chennai’s film‑industry circles, former Tamil and Malayalam actresses Ambika and Radha are embroiled in a public dispute over property, business interests and alleged misuse of cheques. The sisters, who rose to fame in the 1980s, are now facing legal battles that have spilled into the media.
Radha, who recently approached the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner, accused her elder sister of misusing old cheques that she had signed for business purposes. She told reporters in Chennai on Monday that she had kept five or six cheques at her home for paying salaries and maintenance bills for her company, previously named ARS Garden Studio and later renamed RR Garden. Radha said that after the name change she had forgotten about the old cheques. On 16 September, a bank alert shocked her when she learned that the cheques had been presented for encashment in Ambika’s name. According to Radha, the cheques were used without her permission and that her brother Mallikarjunan, who she says is facing other complaints, was involved in the alleged misuse.
Ambika denied the accusations and held a press conference in Chennai to counter Radha’s version of events. She claimed that the five cheques were issued to her by Radha as part of a settlement between the sisters. Ambika said the dispute began after she filed a complaint against Radha in July 2026. The matter has been investigated by the Maduravoyal Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner in connection with the ARS Gardens dispute, and an arbitration case is pending before the Madras High Court.
Ambika also highlighted other points of contention. She alleged that Radha denied her a 50‑cent share of land belonging to the ARS property at Maduravoyal, her one‑third partnership share in ARS Garden Studios, and certain income‑tax‑related returns. She further mentioned a complaint allegedly filed by their brother Mallikarjunan at the Vattiyoorkavu police station against Radha, concerning the registration of the Chennai ARS property in Kerala. Ambika said an FIR was subsequently registered and that a civil suit is pending before a court in Thiruvallur.
According to Ambika, Radha’s complaint was filed after Ambika and others were preparing to initiate a cheque‑bounce case against her. Ambika accused Radha of portraying the matter as a case of cheque misuse while withholding details about the ongoing disputes over property, business interests and gold. The sisters’ feud has now turned into a complex legal saga that may see multiple court cases and police investigations in the coming months.
