Key Points
- Karan Johar has sparked a frenzy by introducing MS Dhoni as the “newest lover boy” in a cinematic promo, fueling rumors of Dhoni’s Bollywood debut.
- The viral video shows Dhoni in a romantic avatar, holding a heart-shaped balloon and reciting a poetic line, but the project is actually a creative ad campaign for Gulf Pride engine oil.
- Directed by Punit Malhotra under Dharma 2.0, the ad playfully teases a love story between Dhoni and his bike, not a traditional Bollywood romance.
- Fans flooded social media with excitement and speculation, with many joking about Dhoni’s “debut” and referencing his iconic status.
- While Dhoni’s life has already been depicted in the hit biopic M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, this marks his first appearance in a film-style commercial.
Mumbai: Bollywood and cricket fans were sent into a tizzy on Tuesday after filmmaker Karan Johar dropped a dramatic teaser on Instagram, presenting cricket legend MS Dhoni in a never-seen-before romantic avatar. The video, which quickly went viral, shows Dhoni sporting his signature long hair walking with a red heart-shaped balloon and reciting the poetic line, “Tum jo saath chalti ho, har safar khoobsurat banati ho,” as the screen flashes, “A love story like no other coming soon”.
Johar’s caption amped up the excitement:
“Dramatic drumroll, please! Presenting MS Dhoni our newest lover boy! But wait, Mahi’s love for his bike isn’t new. And now, thanks to Gulf Pride & Punit’s fabulous storytelling, the world finally gets a front-row seat to this blockbuster love affair! Pure cinematic magic!”
Is Dhoni Really Making His Bollywood Debut?
While the teaser’s film-like presentation and Johar’s signature flair led to wild speculation about Dhoni’s Bollywood debut, the project is actually a cleverly crafted advertisement for Gulf Pride engine oil, directed by Punit Malhotra under Dharma 2.0[. The “love story” at the heart of the campaign is between Dhoni and his beloved bike a nod to his well-known passion for motorcycles.
The ad’s cinematic style, complete with dramatic music and visuals, left even die-hard fans momentarily convinced that “Captain Cool” was set for a big-screen romance. Social media erupted with playful comments, with fans dubbing Dhoni the “new nepo baby of Dharma” and joking about his “entry into Bollywood”.
Dhoni’s On-Screen Journey So Far
This marks the first time MS Dhoni has starred in a film-style commercial, though his life story was famously brought to the big screen in the 2016 blockbuster M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, starring the late Sushant Singh Rajput. The biopic chronicled Dhoni’s rise from a small-town ticket collector to India’s most successful cricket captain, but Dhoni himself had not acted in any film or ad of this scale until now.
What’s Next?
While this campaign is not Dhoni’s official Bollywood debut, it showcases his effortless screen presence and has left fans clamoring for more. The ad is set to premiere soon, and with the buzz it has generated, don’t be surprised if more film offers come knocking for the cricket icon.
For now, fans can enjoy Dhoni’s charming “lover boy” act proving that whether on the field or on screen, Mahi knows how to win hearts.
