Dhanashree Verma recalls ‘media circus’ around her divorce, Yuzvendra Chahal’s ‘Sugar Daddy’ tee: ‘It is a reflection of you as a person’

During the conversation with Humans of Bombay, she also opened up about Chahal’s ‘Be Your Own Sugar Daddy’ t-shirt, which made headlines. Recalling the sequence of events on the fateful day, she mentioned, “I think he walked off first and that whole thing happened.”

“The t-shirt, media, and all of that. I was not aware of that because I was still inside. I got out of the back door because you don’t want cameras all over your face. I was still crying. It’s not a small event in life, but people are going to blame you only. We all were aware that people were going to hate me for this because of the baggage. I am sitting in the car and trying to breathe a sigh of relief that it’s over. You want to look forward to your life ahead. Until I looked up at my phone, and I went like…What? Is this even true? Is this what he did? Has this happened? And in that one second, you have billions of thoughts. That moment I was like…’Boss, it’s over’! It’s done, dusted. Why should I cry? In fact, somewhere I did feel bad trying to gauge why I cried…for this? That was the motivation that I needed to just laugh.”

Yuzvendra Chahal at the court (Source: Varinder Chawla)

Adding that partners must act mature, she said, “You have your own battle going on, and there is media circus. I feel, you have to be very mature about this. I have chosen that path. Like I chose maturity over being immature and passing major statements that can appease public. I won’t choose that path because I don’t want to disrupt my family values. I don’t want to disrupt his family values. We have to keep respect intact throughout.”

“I know how much I have stood up for my partner. How you behave on that particular day is actually the reflection of you as a person,” she continued, adding: “There are good days, bad days in a marriage. But when it ends, that means bad days are really bad days! You have to be mature about it. Arey bhai, WhatsApp kar deta. T-shirt kyu pehna? I have not healed 100 per cent but I am working towards that.”

She also mentioned that while women are always blamed and named, it’s important to consider that “a coin has two sides”. “You can’t clap with one hand. Just because I am not speaking up, doesn’t give anybody the power to take advantage of that. It’s not correct and I don’t think it should happen with anybody. I do have lots to speak about it. I have my side of my story. Do I want to dwell into that? No! Do I wish to? Maybe..sometime…in future…may be….right now, I need to fix myself.”

Taking a cue from her expression, let’s understand how divorce is never easy.

When a marriage dissolves, it’s not only about the husband and wife. Two families, once woven together in trust, in rituals, in love, are suddenly forced to confront rupture. Parents, siblings, children, and even close friends are caught in the cross-currents of grief, guilt, and confusion, said Delnna Rrajesh, psychotherapist, energy healer and life coach.

Then there’s the noise of the world outside. Acknowledging that the media circus around celebrity divorces makes private pain a public spectacle, Delnna reiterated that divorce isn’t just about signing papers. “It’s about unravelling an entire ecosystem of emotions, memories, and bonds,” said Delnna.

Practical insights for navigating divorce with dignity

Allow the grief: Don’t force yourself to be “strong” all the time. Cry. Journal. Sit in silence. Seek therapy. Healing begins by naming the pain.
Limit the noise: Step back from gossip, media, and social media during sensitive times. Everyone doesn’t need to know your side of the story. Protect your peace.
Seek meaning, not blame: Instead of endlessly asking, “Who ruined this?” ask, “What can I learn from this?” Growth comes from reflection, not accusation.
Surround yourself with compassionate voices: Friends, counsellors, or support groups who see you, not just your “marital status,” can remind you of your worth.
Create rituals of closure: Write a letter you never send. Hold a small private ceremony. Acknowledge what was good, what was broken, and consciously release it.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.