The son of veteran film editor A. Mohan, Ravi made his lead acting debut in Jayam (2003), the success of which prompted the title to become a prefix to his stage name until 2025.

The success of Jayam made Ravi continue to collaborate with his brother for other films including M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi (2004), Unakkum Enakkum (2006), Santhosh Subramaniam (2008) and Thani Oruvan (2015).

[2][7] Ravi made his lead acting debut in the action-masala film Jayam, produced by his father and directed by his brother Mohan Raja.

His next venture was the sentimental drama M. Kumaran Son Of Mahalakshmi (2004), the remade version of the Telugu film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi, in which he starred alongside Asin Thottumkal.

Of Ravi's performance, a critic from Sify wrote that he "makes you want to see more of him",[8] while The Hindu's Malathi Rangarajan noted that he came out with an "appreciable portrayal throughout".

Ravi portrayed a rich, happy-go-lucky NRI from London, who has to live and fight for his love in dire conditions in a rural milieu.

Following a cameo appearance in Velli Thirai, he acted in the family drama Santhosh Subramaniam, once again under his brother's direction in a remake.

In the Tamil version of the 2006 Telugu film Bommarillu, starring opposite Genelia D'Souza, he played a young man, whose choices and wishes are continually subdued by his father.

Next, he starred in the action thriller Dhaam Dhoom, directed by cinematographer-director Jeeva, who died in the midst of the film's shooting in Russia.

[25] Completed by Jeeva's assistant Manikandan, his wife Aneez Tanveer and his guru P. C. Sreeram, Dhaam Dhoom released in mid-2008 in which he portrayed Gautham Subramaniyam, a man accused in a murder he did not commit.

In 2014, he starred in the action film Nimirndhu Nil, which was also shot simultaneously in Telugu as Janda Pai Kapiraju with Nani in the lead.