Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and actor-choreographer Dhanashree Verma are officially divorced. The estranged couple, who got married in 2020, had been separated since June 2022.
After filing a joint petition for divorce by mutual consent on February 5, they requested the Bombay High Court to waive the mandatory six-month cooling-off period. Considering Chahal’s upcoming IPL commitments, the court granted their request, and the family court finalized their divorce on Thursday, reported NDTV.
While the legal proceedings moved swiftly, it’s the alimony settlement that has sparked massive controversy online. As per the court order, Chahal will have to pay Dhanashree Rs 4.75 crore as alimony. He has already paid Rs 2.37 crore. He is supposed to pay the rest after the divorce is officially granted.
Social media is ablaze with outrage, with many questioning why a financially independent woman like Dhanashree needs such a large alimony payout.
Many argue that alimony is meant for financially dependent spouses who need support post-divorce, not for someone who has a successful career. Several users on X have called her “exploitative,” with some claiming that women take undue advantage of alimony laws to extract large sums from their ex-husbands.
Have a look:
Dhanashree claims to be a self independent, hardworking woman who never used anyone for success.
Yet, she demands ₹4.75 crore in alimony for 818 days with Chahal valuing herself at ₹50,611 per day. 😏 pic.twitter.com/WgTmJywVQA
— Sann (@san_x_m) March 19, 2025
So, Dhanashree just scored ₹4.75 crores in alimony💰. Court-approved, cha-ching!🤑
She’s a dance influencer, has millions of followers, brand deals galore —an independent woman, right? So why’s she pocketing his cash? 🧐
Where are the feminists screaming equality now? Thought… pic.twitter.com/7etPeTCcdt
— Akassh Ashok Gupta (@peepoye_) March 19, 2025
While passing the alimony judgment, what were M’lords thinking? The biggest asset Yuzi gave Dhanashree was connections and fame, which she will milk her whole life.
How can you even justify ₹4.75 crore for a working woman, without a child from the marriage? 😏😤 pic.twitter.com/mEqjqhV6gk
— Sann (@san_x_m) March 19, 2025
The biggest alimony Chahal gave Dhanashree was access.
4.75 cr is peanuts. Also, never understood why would a successful career woman demand alimony.
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) March 19, 2025
Dhanashree Verma is educated
She is empowered
She earns pretty well
There is no child from MarriageStill she is taking 4.25 Crores Alimony from Yuzvendra Chahal for a marriage that lasted just 18 months
Then feminists have a problem with the word Gold Digger 🤐🤐 pic.twitter.com/7WOfZRG86B
— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) March 19, 2025
Alimony was meant for women who sacrificed careers for marriage. But when an educated, financially independent woman takes ₹4.25 Cr for an 18-month marriage, what exactly is being compensated here?
If a man did this, he’d be called a scammer. Why the double standards?
I’d love…
— Sagar (@FcwArora) March 19, 2025
But 4.25Crs alimony is for what? They do not even have any child, so this huge amount is for which maintenance? In fact, this girl used Chahal links & fame to gain the hype on social media, used Indian Team Cricketers for her reels and social media engagement. She need to payback…
— ANKIT (@AKitOfTweets) March 20, 2025
Dhanashree Verma had an opportunity to set an example by not taking any money from Chahal, which would have earned my respect.
However, her actions now give the impression that financial motives played a role in the marriage.
It’s important for sensible, educated women to set…
— Vikas Singh (@Vikas6257) March 19, 2025
4 crore is ridiculous. They don’t even have kids. Why are men exploited?
— Vikram (@vikram_lingam) March 19, 2025
Alimony exists to provide financial stability to a spouse who may have sacrificed career opportunities for marriage, child-rearing, or household responsibilities. In many cases, women still earn less than men or face career breaks due to family obligations, making alimony a crucial support system. This provision ensures that they don’t suffer financially after a divorce, especially in cases where the husband is the primary earner.
However, this system is not without flaws. Some women do misuse alimony claims to secure hefty payouts, even when they are financially well-off.
What are your views regarding this issue?