Influencer-dancer Dhanashree Verma broke her silence for the first time on her divorce with Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal. Dhanashree explained how her relationship with Yuzvendra forced a break in her life….The couple was married in December of 2020 and The problem was back in the news again when Chahal entered the court premises wearing a T-shirt with “Be Your Own Sugar Daddy” written on it. While the situation created quite a stir and many found themselves in heated debate, Dhanashree has now given an emotional account of how much the divorce impacted her life at home.
“I Had to Stay Strong for My Parents”
In a straightforward interview with Humans of Bombay, Dhanashree said the divorce was “ambiguous” and hard to accept. Even if she eventually got used to some amount of online trolling, her parents had to bear the brunt of it.
“I had to keep my head together for my parents. We’re a generation that knows trolls and abuse should not be given any credibility. But how am I going to be the one to tell my parents? By the end their friends where calling them saying, ‘Yeh kya ho gaya?’ How can they not take that emotionally when I was at the center of that noise and it was my job to reassure them,” she said.
Parents Felt Societal Pressure
According to Dhanashree, the article created an atmosphere of complete estrangement at home. Her parents took untold phone calls; or sometimes her mother seemed to collapse under the pressure.
“Sometimes, my parents wouldn’t even even answer the phone, it would ring so incessantly. There is so much pressure from society on families, and situations like this really cuts to the core and it becomes too much. I remember having to trainingly tell them not to answer the phone. They needed courage – and so did I.” – she said
Courage to Walk Away
Knowing that Chahal’s public persona is that of a famous cricketer, Dhanashree credited her parents with providing her with her strength to leave.
“It took so much strength to even make that decision. Leaving somebody that is much more powerful than you is just not a simple thing to do. My parents made me feel like I was doing the right thing, everyday. They kept saying they were proud of me, and that gave me the strength to continue,” she said.
Choosing Silence Over Reactions
Regardless of the drama and public attention, Dhanashree clarified that she chose to remain silent and focus on her work instead of replying publicly.
“I’m not fully healed, but healing. It’s hard to be silent–being silent is even harder when there is so much going on publicly about you. But that was a decision I made with intention because I needed some time to focus on businesses and healing”, she said.
A Marriage That Ended After Five Years
The couple, who often shared happy memories from their dating experience on social media, announced their split on March 20, 2025. Fans loved the couple, so it came as a shock to them all that they broke up.
As Chahal was dealing with his divorce, an old clip resurfaced in which he said that Dhanashree asked him for diamonds while they were in a fight. The clip went viral and ignited another debate revolving around the breakup and relationship.
Moving Forward
For Dhanashree, the adventure has been one of perseverance, strength, and healing. Although the divorce has been difficult, she had her parents to lean on for tons of support. Her job has also saved her by keeping her mind focused on that and using the strength of silence rather than confrontation. Although she is on the road to rebuilding and is well on her way to getting her life back to normal, she is still damaged and healing.
