MS Dhoni turns lover boy in Karan Johar’s new ad film: Fans say ‘Kuch Kuch Thala Hai’

Filmmaker Karan Johar has surprised fans once again by introducing none other than MS Dhoni as the “new lover boy in town.” Known for creating some of Bollywood’s most iconic romantic heroes, Karan now casts the cricket legend in a suave, cinematic avatar through a newly released ad film teaser. The moment the teaser dropped on Instagram, fans couldn’t keep calm—and neither could the internet.

Karan shared a clip featuring Dhoni dressed in effortless casuals, set against a soulful new track sung by Arijit Singh. In the video, the cricketer is seen releasing a red heart-shaped balloon and saying the romantic line: "Tum jo saath chalti ho, har safar khoobsoorat banati ho", which translates to “When you walk with me, you make the journey beautiful.” The ad is part of a campaign for Gulf Pride and is directed by Punit Malhotra, a frequent collaborator of Dharma Productions.

Karan captioned the post, “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!”

Fans were instantly charmed by Dhoni’s transformation and flooded the comments section with praise. One user called him a “cutie pie,” while another coined the viral phrase “Kuch Kuch Thala Hai,” cleverly blending Dhoni’s popular nickname “Thala” with the iconic 1998 Karan Johar film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Comments ranged from swooning compliments to playful nostalgia. “MSD in a new avatar,” one user wrote with heart emojis. Another fan noted, “Sushant Singh Rajput wala touch aa gaya,” referring to the late actor who portrayed Dhoni in the biopic MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.

However, not all reactions were celebratory. A few viewers seemed taken aback by this unexpected shift in Dhoni’s on-screen presence. “Ye kis line mei aagaye aap, Maahi sir?” one user joked sarcastically, wondering if the cricketer was about to take on a full-fledged acting career. But Karan Johar quickly clarified that this was indeed an advertisement—not a film debut—though he certainly didn’t mind the buzz it created.

Director Punit Malhotra also weighed in on Instagram, writing, “It was Mahi’s magic that made it truly cinematic!” The dreamy visuals, paired with Dhoni’s rarely-seen romantic flair, have already sparked speculation that he could transition into movies if he ever chose to. But for now, the ad remains a charming one-off that gives fans a refreshing look at their cricketing idol.

Meanwhile, on the film front, Karan Johar is gearing up for the release of Kesari: Chapter 2, a courtroom drama set against the backdrop of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The film, directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films, stars R Madhavan and Ananya Panday.

A spiritual sequel to Akshay Kumar’s 2019 hit Kesari, the new installment is based on The Case That Shook the Empire by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. It explores the legal crusade led by C Sankaran Nair following the 1919 tragedy and is slated for release on April 18.

As fans debate whether MS Dhoni is Bollywood-bound or just briefly moonlighting, one thing is clear: the lover boy image suits him just fine—and Karan Johar has once again proved his unmatched flair for storytelling and surprise casting.