logo
Dhanashree Verma visits Dubai, reflects on ‘growth and reconnection' days after Yuzvendra Chahal's divorce remarks

Dhanashree Verma visits Dubai, reflects on ‘growth and reconnection' days after Yuzvendra Chahal's divorce remarks

Mint3 days ago
Days after cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal opened up about their divorce in a podcast, Dhanashree Verma has shared her quiet response, through a reflective Instagram post from Dubai.
The choreographer and influencer, who was earlier married to the cricketer, shared a glimpse into her time in the UAE, which included street food indulgence, evening strolls, and a temple visit. Her caption hinted at inner growth and emotional grounding.
'Back in Dubai after what feels like a lifetime… Growing up here gave me so many core memories and seeing how much the city has evolved was both surreal and heartwarming,' she wrote. 'One of the highlights was visiting this beautiful Hindu temple, peaceful, powerful, and a reminder of how far this city has come in embracing culture and community… Grateful for the growth, the roots, and the reconnection.'
This marks Dhanashree's first social media update since Chahal's candid conversation on Raj Shamani's podcast, where he addressed public speculation around their split.
Chahal, speaking on Figuring Out with Raj Shamani, opened up about the emotional toll of dealing with public judgment after his divorce.
'I think when my divorce happened, people accused me of being a cheater. I have never cheated in my life. I am not that kind of a person. You won't find anyone more loyal than me,' he said. 'When people don't know anything, but they keep blaming me, so you start thinking (otherwise).'
He also addressed the viral moment when he was seen wearing a 'Be Your Own Sugar Daddy' T-shirt on the day of the final divorce hearing.
'Kyunki saamne se kuch cheez hua tha, aur mera pehle mann nahi tha. Fir saamne se kuch hua toh fir maine kaha ab sambhaal lo, ab mujhe nahi parwah kisi ki. Maine na kisi ko abuse kra, bas mujhe message dena tha,' he said.
Dhanashree and Yuzvendra Chahal tied the knot in December 2020 in an intimate ceremony in Gurugram. The two met during the COVID-19 lockdown when Chahal approached Dhanashree for dance lessons.
According to court filings, the couple separated in June 2022. They filed a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent in February 2025 and were officially granted a divorce in March this year.
Amid their separation, media rumours were claiming Dhanashree had demanded ₹ 60 crore in alimony, a speculation her family publicly dismissed.
'We are deeply outraged by the baseless claims being circulated about the alimony figure… It is deeply irresponsible to publish such unverified information,' the statement read, urging restraint and sensitivity in reporting.
As the internet continues to dissect every quote and post, both Dhanashree and Chahal seem to be carving separate paths, one through quiet reflection, the other through open conversation.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gina Carano to return to Disney's Mandalorian? Why she was fired; how Elon Musk helped in her lawsuit
Gina Carano to return to Disney's Mandalorian? Why she was fired; how Elon Musk helped in her lawsuit

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Gina Carano to return to Disney's Mandalorian? Why she was fired; how Elon Musk helped in her lawsuit

Gina Carano has settled her lawsuit Walt Disney Co., who she sued for wrongful termination after she was fired from Mandalorian – the Disney+ Star Wars television series, where she played Cara Dune in the first two seasons from 2019 to 2020. Gina Carano's character was written out in Season 3 of the Mandalorian, and it was mentioned that Cara Dune had been recruited by the New Republic Special Forces, after she turned in Moff Gideon. (Reuters) 'I have come to an agreement with Disney/Lucasfilm which I believe is the best outcome for all parties involved. I hope this brings some healing to the force,' she said on X. A Lucasfilm spokesperson, meanwhile, said 'Ms. Carano was always well respected by her directors, co-stars, and staff, and she worked hard to perfect her craft while treating her colleagues with kindness and respect. With this lawsuit concluded, we look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.' Carano's character was written out in Season 3, and it was mentioned that Cara Dune had been recruited by the New Republic Special Forces, after she turned in Moff Gideon. Also Read | Liam Neeson wasn't impressed with his 'namby pamby death' in Star Wars: 'Oh please. Hardly a master jedi' Now, with the lawsuit settled, and Lucasfilm stating a desire to work with Carano in the future, many are clamoring for her to return to Mandalorian. 'Gina Carano can you please come back in the Mandalorian that be great Grogu would be happy to see you,' one person said on X. Another exclaimed 'We want to see Gina Carano in the new Mandalorian movie! We want Cara Dune back!' While fans rejoice the possible return of Cara Dune, here is why Gina Carano was fired and how Elon Musk helped her in the lawsuit. Gina Carano controversy explained Gina Carano had put up a string of controversial posts, after which she was fired. The actor consistently took a stance against Covid vaccines throughout the pandemic. She also implied the 2020 election was a result of 'voter fraud' echoing President Donald Trump's claims. She posted misinformation on both matters, as per Entertainment Weekly, but things came to a head when Carano posted a meme that compared having different political opinions to being Jewish in Nazi Germany. Carano defended her post, saying it 'just made sense — don't hate your neighbor. Before the Nazis were as powerful as they became, you had to make it OK to hate this person next to you. That's how we get to dangerous places. And history does repeat itself.' Prior to this, Carano also courted controversy, when she mocked the use of pronouns on social media. Not only did co-star Pedro Pascal speak to her at the time, but there was concerted effort from Lucasfilm and Disney HR to media train Carano and send her to a 'reeducation camp'. How Elon Musk helped Gina Carano Elon Musk backed Carano's lawsuit, which she filed in California federal court. Speaking of his help at the time, Carano said 'I think it's pretty incredible what he is doing. A lot of billionaires put their money into buying islands and building bunkers. Elon Musk is using his money to fight massive injustice battles,' as per EW. After the case was settled too, Carano took a moment to thank Musk. 'I want to extend my deepest most heartfelt gratitude to Elon Musk, a man I've never met, who did this Good Samaritan deed for me in funding my lawsuit. Thank you Mr. Musk and @X for backing my case and asking for nothing in return," she said. Notably, terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. In 2021, Lucasfilm said it had no plans for any future work with Carano and that her 'social-media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.' At the time, Carano's talent agent, United Talent Agency, and publicity firm, ID Public Relations, both said they were no longer working with her. (With Bloomberg inputs)

Brandon Blackstock cause of death revealed: Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband dies at 48, singer ‘devastated'
Brandon Blackstock cause of death revealed: Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband dies at 48, singer ‘devastated'

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Brandon Blackstock cause of death revealed: Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband dies at 48, singer ‘devastated'

Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, has died, his family and rep confirmed. He was 48. Blackstock had reportedly been battling melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, and, according to TMZ, spent his final days in hospice care. His death comes just weeks after Kelly faced backlash for abruptly cancelling her Las Vegas residency, citing 'personal reasons' at the time without revealing the real cause. Also read: Kelly Clarkson seeks divorce from husband of nearly 7 years 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,' his management company posted late at night on Instagram. Alongside a photo, they wrote, 'Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.' Earlier, Clarkson, without revealing details, had said she cancelled her residency because the father of her children was 'ill' and she needed to focus on her family. 'While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,' Clarkson wrote on Instagram Wednesday night. 'I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows, and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.' Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that begins in melanocytes. These are the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. It can also develop in the eyes and often starts on skin damagecd by too much sun exposure. While the exact cause isn't fully known, ultraviolet (UV) light is a major reason behind. The risk increases for people over 40. Also read: 'Kardashian gang' Beyoncé, JLo, and Lauren Sanchez accused of 'naked racism' against white women; Megyn Kelly defends Sydney Sweeney as a 'natural beauty' Kelly and Brandon married in 2013, back when he was her talent manager and his father, Narvel Blackstock, ran the company that also managed her. Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, and after a long, messy court battle, it was finalised in 2022. The marriage had already been on shaky ground, something the singer had hinted at before, but she still kept a united front for the family. After his death, a source told Page Six, 'When she found out he was sick, she stayed protective of him for the kids' sake. Kelly has always kept it classy. Earlier this year, it became clear Brandon wasn't doing well. She's been devastated for the kids.' Kelly was granted primary custody, but was still ordered to pay $115,000 a month in spousal support until January 2024, along with a hefty one-time settlement. Brandon Blackstock's family business managed big country stars like Blake Shelton and Carly Pearce. Narvel was married to Reba McEntire for 26 years. Kelly Clarkson first met Blackstock back in 2006 at the Academy of Country Music Awards. They met again in 2012 at the Super Bowl, where Kelly sang the national anthem. A year later, they got married. Though their marriage faced a lot of ups and downs, Blackstock's illness was kept so private that most people even some who worked with Kelly, didn't know what was going on

Beyond the joke: how the growth in India's comedy industry pays the bill for its crew
Beyond the joke: how the growth in India's comedy industry pays the bill for its crew

Mint

time2 hours ago

  • Mint

Beyond the joke: how the growth in India's comedy industry pays the bill for its crew

The Indian comedy industry has grown tenfold since 2018, with top comedians earning up to ₹25 crore annually from ticket sales, corporate gigs, and brand endorsements. This growth has created more jobs for editors, producers, managers, scriptwriters, and cameramen, all now earning competitive pay instead of working on barter. Comedy show producers now make between ₹50 lakh and ₹3 crore a year, and managers—who typically take 10% of a comedian's earnings—see their incomes rise as the comic's popularity does. Young professionals are increasingly attracted to these behind-the-scenes roles. Take Sohail Abbas, a 21-year-old cinematographer, who has filmed shows for major comics like Ravi Gupta, Harsh Gujaral, and Anubhav Singh Bassi. 'When it all started, the revenue opportunities in this space were minimal, but after the live comedy industry blew up post covid, the earnings for cinematographers, photographers, and creative visionaries like me have grown at least five times," he said. He highlighted how YouTube and Instagram boost comedians' visibility. As per Saksham Mishra, a talent manager at production and talent management agency Oriole Entertainment, 30-40% of comedians' income comes from social media content. Photographers and videographers help comics produce polished content, attracting wider audiences and brand deals. Editor Harshal Sharma, 24, shifted from the wedding video industry to comedy editing in August 2024. "Comedy, when performed on stage, is very different and raw from how it appears on YouTube videos. That is because the shows can go up to 2-2.5 hours, but the edited version that is uploaded on YouTube ranges between 20 and 40 minutes." An editor needs to present the funniest moments of the show in a seamless way to attract more audience to the comic's live shows, Sharma said. He edits 5-6 videos a month, making ₹50,000-70,000—triple his earlier income. Industry growth In 2018, an IIM Ahmedabad report valued Indian stand-up at ₹30 crore with 25% annual growth. Between 2016 and 2018, the scene was chaotic, with talent managers working on barters. Expansion into Tier 2 and 3 cities changed that. 'Regional content and the reach of mobile internet have fuelled expansion into Tier 2 and 3 cities, making comedy accessible and aspirational well beyond the metros," said Oriole's Saksham Mishra. Artists now perform in regional languages like Punjabi, Gujarati, Haryanvi, and Kannada, apart from English and Hindi, and regional crew members benefit from more jobs. Digital platforms and youth preferences have fuelled growth. 'Platforms like YouTube and Instagram, along with OTT services, have let comics like Zakir Khan, Anubhav Singh Bassi, Harsh Gujral, and Ravi Gupta build massive fanbases directly," Mishra explained. Many first became popular online before selling out theatres. The demand for escapism is rising exponentially, fuelling the growth of the entertainment industry overall, said Asish Pherwani, partner at consulting firm Ernst and Young, who tracks the media and entertainment sector. "Almost 80% of a viewer's screen time is spent on entertainment content, and comedy is one genre that is doing extremely well within that category. Due to this high demand for comedic content, this industry is attracting a lot of young talent in different roles. Despite facing hiccups, I believe this industry will continue to grow and provide more employment as its demand is on the rise," he said. Also read | Influencers' quiet quitting—when the likes don't pay for the rentStatistically, the broader media and entertainment sector in India was valued at ₹2.5 trillion ($29.4 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach ₹2.7 trillion in 2025 and ₹3.1 trillion by 2027. "Within that, digital media has surged to become the largest segment, contributing 32% of total revenues in 2024. The events and experiential segment, which includes live comedy, grew 15% in 2024 and crossed the ₹100 billion mark for the first time," said Preranaa Khatri, chief business officer at talent management agency Only Much Louder (OML). More specific to comedy, data suggests a 29% jump in industry revenue in 2021, and India's stand-up and sketch content has seen explosive growth on streaming platforms and YouTube, with many comedians reaching hundreds of millions of views and subscribers. "The combination of script deals, individual global tours, and digital-first launches has helped convert niche creators from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities into mainstream earners," Khatri noted. She added that this growth is marked not just by the number of comedians, but also by the scale of investment pouring into the genre, and the sector is expected to rival the US and UK markets in the next few years. "With the media and entertainment industry expected to grow at nearly 10% annually, reaching $73.6 billion by 2027, the comedy sector is poised to benefit massively from this growth," Khatri said. Also read | Internships to jobs: IIMs see surge in offers as startups, NGOs step up Young audiences have driven up demand for live shows. 'Average ticket prices have leapt from ₹300 pre-2018 to ₹3,000 or more now, and the top comics regularly command crowds of 10,000 or more at major shows. Income for leading acts has grown as much as 50 times, with the best now earning ₹10-25 crore annually, mostly from ticketed shows, and about 20-30% from corporate gigs and brand work," said Mishra. Revenue now mainly comes from live shows, with additional earnings from social media and brand partnerships. Support professionals also now earn ₹1-3 crore annually, working with top comedians. According to Mishra, jobs behind the scenes have increased 10-20 times, especially for people in their 20s and 30s. More venues Many comedians perform at open mics, which are mostly free for audiences, to test the waters before ticketed shows. Ujjwal Kala, cofounder of Hideout Comedy Club in Delhi, recalled that around 2020, there were only one or two dedicated venues for open mics in Delhi that charged comics around ₹300 per act of roughly five minutes. Comedians also requested café owners to host shows on barter deals. Kala added, 'Today, there are about 15 dedicated comedy rooms in Delhi NCR, with three to four shows daily. These venues are expanding to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Tier 2 and 3 cities." Emerging comics pay ₹100-300 to perform at open mics, and venues offer recording services for a fee. 'The most premium venues charge established comedians up to ₹12,000," he said. Also read | Why influencer management firms are looking within to enhance brand performance Despite the growth, the industry faces challenges. 'Censorship, backlash over controversial material, show cancellations, and unpredictable venue rules are real risks," Oriole's Mishra noted. 'Top comics enjoy unprecedented success, but newcomers face low pay, heavy competition, and a widening gap between stars and struggling comics." Additional hurdles include high costs, licensing issues, and regulatory uncertainty.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store