Popular Indian actress and social media influencer Anushka Sen has shared an interesting insight into her association with former India captain MS Dhoni. During a recent interview, the actress looked back at their first meeting and spoke about how their relationship developed over the years.
Anushka, who enjoys a following of more than 37 million on Instagram, revealed that her connection with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend goes beyond their professional association. She also recalled how a shared connection with their hometown helped break the ice when they first met.
Anushka Sen reveals why she calls MS Dhoni ‘Mahi Chachu’
Speaking to Mashable India, Anushka recalled meeting Dhoni around 10 years ago when she was still quite young. Their first interaction took place during an advertising shoot, when she entered the former India captain’s vanity van and introduced herself by mentioning that she was also from Ranchi.
“I met Mahendra Singh Dhoni – I call him Mahi chachu – like 10 years back, when I was very young. The first thing I told him when I entered the vanity, I was like, ‘You’re from Ranchi, I’m also from Ranchi!’,” she said.
Anushka revealed that Dhoni was delighted to discover their common connection, and that conversation became the starting point of their bond. She explained that their relationship never felt like a conventional actor-and-colleague association, as he affectionately calls her ‘Chikki’ while she addresses him as ‘Mahi Chachu’.
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Anushka reveals working with Dhoni in 21 advertisements
The actress also opened up about the number of projects she completed alongside the former India captain. According to Anushka, they worked together in 21 advertisements over a period of seven years, giving them plenty of opportunities to interact beyond the camera.
“Ever since that, our bond was not like actor-actor or colleagues. It was like Mahi chachu and Chikki. He always used to enter the set and be like ‘Chikki!’, and I used to be like ‘Chachu!’. We worked for seven years, and we did 21 ads together,” she added.
Meanwhile, Dhoni’s own future in cricket remains a talking point, with his participation in IPL 2027 still uncertain. The 45-year-old did not feature in the 2026 edition for Chennai Super Kings due to injury concerns and has indicated that he will make a decision after undergoing medical tests, potentially by December.
