Dhanashree Verma, the choreographer and digital content creator, has recently opened up about her marriage to Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, revealing that she began noticing changes in him soon after their "roka" ceremony. Verma's revelations came during an episode of the reality show "Rise and Fall," hosted by Ashneer Grover.
Verma shared that their relationship started as an arranged marriage prospect, with Chahal expressing his desire to get married without a dating period. "It was love and arranged both. It started off as an arranged marriage. Basically, he wanted to get married without dating, and I wasn't even planning for anything like that," she said. She was convinced by the "amount of love that was poured into the whole process". The couple had their "roka" (engagement) in August 2020 and got married in December of the same year.
"During that time, I travelled with him, and we stayed together," Verma explained. However, she admitted to noticing subtle shifts in Chahal's behavior after their engagement. "I started seeing subtle changes in his behaviour. There is a difference between how people act when they want something compared to when they get it," she confessed. Despite these changes, Verma chose to trust Chahal and the relationship, attributing it to her tendency to give people too many chances. "Even though I saw him changing, I put my trust into him and the relationship. My problem is that I love giving too many chances to the people around me. But eventually, I got done with it".
Verma's recent comments add to the ongoing narrative surrounding their divorce, which was finalized in March 2025. In prior revelations, Verma claimed that she realized her marriage was a mistake early on, alleging that Chahal had been unfaithful just two months after their wedding in December 2020. When actress Kubbra Sait asked her on the show when she realized the marriage wouldn't work, Verma stated, "First year. Caught him in the second month," implying infidelity on Chahal's part.
The couple's relationship began during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 when Chahal attended Verma's online dance classes. Their friendship quickly blossomed into romance, culminating in their engagement and marriage. However, the marriage was short-lived, and they filed for divorce by mutual consent in February 2025.
Verma has also spoken about the emotional toll of the separation. In a podcast for Humans of Bombay, she recounted the day of the divorce verdict: "Even though we were so well-prepared mentally, I got so emotional. I started howling in front of everybody. I couldn't even express what I was feeling at that point. He (Chahal) walked out first".
Despite the accusations and the end of their marriage, Dhanashree Verma has expressed that she will always care for Chahal. "I'll always be concerned for him; that much I can guarantee," she stated. She also addressed the trolling she faced after their split and dismissed rumors of alimony payments. "It happened quickly because it was mutual, that's why when people say alimony, it's wrong. Just because I am not saying anything, you will go on saying anything?" she clarified. Verma has emphasized the importance of focusing on personal well-being and not dwelling on public criticism. "Why waste time explaining to those who don't even know you?" she said.
