Dhanashree Verma, the choreographer and dancer, has recently opened up about the challenges she faced in balancing her career and marriage with Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal. The couple, who finalized their divorce in March 2025, had been the subject of much media and social media attention, and both have now begun to share their perspectives on what led to the end of their relationship.
Verma, in an interview, alluded to the difficulties arising from her demanding work schedule and the constant travel it required. While not explicitly blaming the divorce on these factors, she implied that they contributed to the strain on the marriage. She stated that both she and Chahal were deeply focused on their respective careers, making it difficult to prioritize the relationship, and hence, with time, the emotional disconnect grew. Chahal echoed this sentiment, noting that relationships require compromise, but sometimes two people's personalities or ambitions may not align.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance that began during the COVID-19 lockdown when Chahal enrolled in Verma's online dance classes. Their connection quickly deepened, culminating in an engagement in August 2020 and a wedding in December of the same year. For a time, they were admired as a celebrity couple, frequently sharing glimpses of their lives on social media. However, by the third year of their marriage, cracks began to appear.
Rumors of separation first surfaced when the couple unfollowed each other on Instagram and Chahal deleted their wedding photos. While Verma initially denied the rumors, calling them "baseless" and "devoid of fact," the couple ultimately confirmed their divorce in March 2025, citing "compatibility issues".
The divorce was followed by a period of intense scrutiny and speculation, with both Verma and Chahal facing online trolling and accusations. Chahal was even accused of cheating. Verma revealed that she had to urge her parents to stay off their phones due to the overwhelming societal pressure and negative attention. She also spoke about her fears of whether she would be accepted and get work after the divorce.
In the aftermath, both Verma and Chahal have expressed a desire to move on and focus on their respective careers. Verma is set to appear in Ashneer Grover's upcoming reality show 'Rise & Fall', and has also been candid about manifesting love again. She has also taken a subtle dig at her ex-husband in the promo of the show. Chahal, on the other hand, has spoken about the mental health struggles he faced during the divorce proceedings and the pain of being labeled a "cheater".
Despite the difficulties, Verma has stated that things have settled down between her and Chahal, and that they are in touch.
