Dhanashree Verma, the choreographer and YouTuber, has recently opened up about her divorce from Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, finalized on March 20, 2025, after an 18-month separation. The couple, who married in December 2020, officially parted ways in June 2022 and filed a joint divorce petition on February 5 of this year.
Verma recently spoke about the emotional toll of the divorce proceedings, revealing that she broke down in tears during the final hearing. "I still remember when I was standing there and the verdict was about to be given. Even though we were so well-prepared mentally, I got so emotional. I started howling in front of everybody," she shared in an interview with Humans of Bombay. She also acknowledged the support she provided Chahal during their marriage, stating, "I know how much I have stood up for my partner, and everybody has seen that. Like for the smallest or biggest things, I have been there".
The divorce proceedings have been under intense public scrutiny, with reports circulating about a ₹4.75 crore alimony payment from Chahal to Verma. There were also rumors of Verma seeking ₹60 crore in alimony, which her family vehemently denied in a public statement. The statement condemned the spread of unverified information and urged the media to respect their privacy.
Adding to the controversy, Chahal was seen wearing a T-shirt that read "Be Your Own Sugar Daddy" on the day of their final divorce hearing. Verma admitted to being taken aback by this, saying, "Are bhai, WhatsApp kar deta. T-shirt kyun pehna hai?" which translates to "Brother, you could have just sent a WhatsApp. Why wear a T-shirt?". She also noted the expectation that she would be blamed for the incident, highlighting the public's tendency to assign blame in such situations.
Verma is set to appear in the upcoming reality show "Rise and Fall," hosted by Ashneer Grover, which premieres on MX Player on September 6. The show features 16 celebrities and divides them into "rulers" and "workers," with the latter group striving to reach the top. In the trailer for the show, Verma makes a comment about broken trust, which many interpret as a subtle dig at Chahal. When comedian Kiku Sharda suggests that the contestants can only win by trusting each other, Verma retorts, "Trust bohot pehle toot chuka tha (My trust was broken long ago)".
Verma has emphasized the importance of privacy, stating, "There is a reason why we say 'personal life'. It has to be private". She also alluded to the speculation surrounding their relationship, adding, "Just because I am not speaking it doesn't give anyone the power to take advantage of that. It is not correct. I think it should not happen with anybody".
Following the divorce finalization, Verma shared a cryptic post on Instagram that read, "It's time to rise. A new chapter begins now". While the exact reasons for the divorce remain private, reports suggest that differing opinions about relocating to Mumbai may have played a role. According to a source, Verma wanted to move to Mumbai, while Chahal preferred to stay in Haryana with his parents. The Bombay High Court played a role in expediting the divorce process by waiving the mandatory six-month cooling period, following a joint request from the couple.
