For months, social media has had a field day calling Dhanashree Verma names. From being unjustly branded a “gold digger” to being judged for her private life following her breakup with cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, the choreographer and social media influencer has endured it all. But rather than allow the hatred to shape her, Dhanashree has discovered a way to reclaim control–with humour, sarcasm, and a dash of irony.
Recently, in a promo for Ashneer Grover’s new reality show Rise and Fall (streaming on Amazon MX Player), Dhanashree turned what could have been another awkward moment into one of her most savage comebacks.
The moment on Rise and Fall
The format of the show had contestants paired up and asked to choose between two bags: a gold one worth ₹2 lakh and a silver one worth ₹1 lakh. Dhanashree was paired with popular TV actor Arjun Bijlani. While discussing their choice, Arjun cheekily said, “Mujhe diamond, silver thoda suit nahi karta. Mujhe gold suit karta hai.”
For most people, it would’ve been an ordinary line in a reality show task. But for Dhanashree, whose personal life had been under the scanner with the “gold digger” tag for months, the word “gold” carried a heavier weight. And that’s exactly why her response hit differently.
Smiling, she replied with perfect comic timing:
“Yeh line toh main bol nahi sakti. Agar maine yeh line bol di toh jo mujhe pyaar milne vala hoga vo bhi nahi milega.”
It was light, it was self-aware, and it was a subtle clapback at all the trolls who had been dragging her name. In that one moment, Dhanashree showed that sometimes the best way to deal with labels is to flip them into jokes.
From trolls to triumph
Dhanashree’s ability to laugh at the situation didn’t come overnight. Ever since her relationship with Chahal hit a rough patch, she has been the subject of endless gossip. Married in December 2020 after a whirlwind lockdown romance, the couple initially looked like one of cricket’s fairytale love stories. But by mid-2022, cracks began to show, and the two started living separately.
This year, in February 2025, Dhanashree and Chahal jointly filed for divorce by mutual consent, which was granted in March. For her, it marked the end of a deeply personal chapter, but the public wasn’t willing to let go so easily.
At the final hearing, Chahal’s choice of attire, specifically a T-shirt that read “Be Your Own Sugar Daddy,” sparked a storm online. Trolls weaponized it against Dhanashree, making the “gold digger” narrative louder than ever.
Looking back at the incident on the Humans of Bombay podcast, Dhanashree admitted she was taken aback. “Are bhai, WhatsApp kar deta. T-shirt kyun pehna hai?” she joked, adding that if he really had something to say, it could’ve been done privately. But even here, she refused to play the victim card; instead, she met the awkwardness with humor.
A candid side of Dhanashree
While memes and trolling dominated headlines, Dhanashree showed a softer side in Farah Khan’s vlog earlier this year. She shared that things between her and Chahal had “settled down” and revealed that they still keep in touch through messages. “I am in touch with Yuzi also on messages. He used to call me maa; he is sweet only,” she said, proving that despite everything, bitterness isn’t how she chooses to remember their bond.
This equilibrium of combating online hate with attitude while maintaining kindness in everyday life is precisely what makes Dhanashree’s story so accessible to so many.
Owning her story
In a time when celebrities are constantly under the scanner, Dhanashree’s skill at turning trolling into a joke is quite welcome. Rather than delivering fiery statements or staying out of the limelight, she’s changed the script. By stating “I can’t even say I like gold now” on national TV, she brought the sanity back into the label hurled at her.
What’s also notable is the strength behind her humor. Jokes like these won’t take away from the hurt of being trolled for months, but they do display strength the kind that’s like, “You don’t get to define who I am.”
Moving forward
Dhanashree Verma today is more than either someone’s ex-wife or the face of a viral controversy. She’s a choreographer, content creator, and now a participant on a reality show making her own space. Her capacity to laugh at herself and make gentle jokes at the negativity that revolved around her is a reminder that healing is not always in the form of silence it can also be a form of wit.
In a society where women are usually labeled, judged, and defined in one word, Dhanashree’s reaction is empowering. She didn’t deny trolls, she didn’t flee from them she claimed them, joked about them, made them entertainment.