Veteran actor Jayaram recently shared a touching story involving Sakshi Dhoni, wife of cricket legend MS Dhoni, and their daughter Ziva that left fans smiling.
While promoting his upcoming Tamil film Parimala & Co, the actor opened up about an unexpected encounter during an IPL match in Chennai. What began as a routine appearance quickly turned into a memorable moment that reminded him of the far-reaching impact of cinema and music.
During a fan interaction hosted by Cinema Vikatan, Jayaram was asked about the most special fan moment of his career. The actor immediately recalled meeting Sakshi Dhoni at an IPL game just a week earlier.
“I was at an IPL cricket match in Chennai when someone pointed out Dhoni’s wife to me. I didn’t know she was there. Suddenly, she walked over, touched my feet and told me she was a huge fan,” Jayaram revealed.
The gesture left the veteran actor stunned.
“I was shocked. For a moment, I genuinely thought she had mistaken me for someone else,” he said with a laugh.
Wanting to make sure there was no misunderstanding, Jayaram asked Sakshi if she was certain about who he was. Her response, however, made the moment even more special.
According to the actor, Sakshi told him that she knew exactly who he was and even shared a beautiful memory connected to their daughter, Ziva.
Sakshi revealed that when Ziva was very young, her Malayali nanny would often sing the popular Malayalam song Ambalappuzha Unnikannanodu to help her sleep. The song holds a special place in Malayalam cinema and featured in the 1991 classic Adwaytham, which starred Mohanlal, Jayaram and Revathi.
Recalling the conversation, Jayaram said, “Their daughter Ziva’s nanny was Malayali. When she was little, she would sing my song Ambalappuzha Unnikannanodu to make her sleep.”
The actor even sang a few lines of the beloved song during the fan interaction, delighting the audience.
What surprised him most was Sakshi’s familiarity with the song and his contribution to it.
“When I told her it was my song, she immediately said, ‘I know it’s your song,'” Jayaram shared.
The story brought back memories of a viral video from 2017, when a young Ziva Dhoni charmed the internet by singing Ambalappuzha Unnikannanodu. At just two years old, she won hearts across social media with her adorable rendition of the Malayalam classic, which she had learned from her nanny, affectionately known as Sheila Aunty.
The video became an instant sensation and showcased the cultural connection between the Dhoni family and Kerala through music.
For Jayaram, the encounter was a reminder that films and songs often travel far beyond the screen, creating emotional bonds across generations and regions.
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Jayaram remains one of South Indian cinema’s most respected actors. From his breakthrough in Aparan to memorable performances across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi cinema, he has built a loyal fan base that continues to grow.
The actor is currently gearing up for the release of Parimala & Co, a crime-comedy directed by Pandiraaj. The film also stars Urvashi, Mysskin, Yogi Babu and Sandy Master in pivotal roles.
But amid discussions about his upcoming projects, it was this simple and heartfelt interaction with Sakshi Dhoni that emerged as one of the most memorable stories from his recent appearances proving once again that genuine admiration from fans can sometimes become an artist’s most cherished reward.
