Celebrity reality shows are known for their dramatic flair, and Amazon MX Player’s forthcoming series Rise and Fall has already produced its first viral sensation—thanks to choreographer and influencer Dhanashree Verma.
In the newly released promo, Dhanashree, who portrays one of the “rulers” in the series, delivers a pointed one-liner that many interpret as directed at her ex-husband, Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Comment That Ignited Social Media
While interacting with co-contestant Nayandeep Rakshit (cast as a worker), Dhanashree smirked before stating:
“Queen ko star banne ki zarurat nahi hai, aur waise bhi interviewers ki line lagi padi hai. Penthouse mein jitne bhi sports channels haina… maine bandh kardiye hai.”
(The queen doesn’t need to become a star—interviewers are already queuing up. And by the way, I’ve shut down all the sports channels in the penthouse.)
Shortly after the promo was released, clips went viral on Instagram and X, with users analyzing the remark as a cheeky, indirect jab at Chahal.
The Backstory: Dhanashree & Chahal
The couple, who married in 2020, were once a beloved pairing—until rumors of discord began to emerge in 2022. By March 2025, their divorce was finalized, with news of an alimony settlement of ₹4.75 crore making headlines.
The separation led to severe online harassment directed at Dhanashree, with detractors labeling her a “gold digger.” The situation escalated when Chahal appeared on the day of the divorce wearing a provocative T-shirt that stated: “Be Your Own Sugar Daddy.”
In a subsequent interview, Dhanashree confessed that she anticipated being blamed, irrespective of the situation. “Before I was even aware of this T-shirt incident, we all knew that people would hold me responsible for this,” she shared with Humans of Bombay.
Why the Line Feels Personal
In light of this context, her comment regarding “sports channels” seems less like a casual remark and more like a deliberate assertion. Social media users quickly made the connection: shutting down “sports channels” implies excluding cricket—and consequently, Chahal.
Some commended her for the courageous response, while others criticized her for “monetizing personal life drama” to remain in the limelight.
About Rise and Fall
Hosted by Ashneer Grover, Rise and Fall categorizes 16 celebrity contestants into rulers enjoying opulence in a penthouse and workers enduring hardship in a basement. The promotional material already hints at numerous confrontations, playful exchanges, and subtle jabs. Contestants include Arjun Bijlani, Kiku Sharda, Kubbra Sait, Nayandeep Rakshit, and Dhanashree Verma.
The Bigger Picture
Whether by design or coincidence, Dhanashree’s remark has rekindled discussions surrounding her public separation from Chahal. More significantly, it illustrates how reality television thrives on intertwining personal and professional stories, captivating audiences through underlying themes and conjecture.
And if this is merely the promotional content, viewers can anticipate even greater drama once the show officially premieres.