'Cheap sensationalism': Hardik Pandya hits out at paparazzi after Mahieka Sharma photographed inappropriately

NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya issued a strong statement on Tuesday through his Instagram Stories, calling out a section of paparazzi after an incident involving model Mahieka Sharma. Pandya condemned the intrusive behaviour, saying a private moment was turned into “cheap sensationalism.”


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Addressing the situation, Pandya wrote, "Living in the public eye comes with attention and scrutiny, it’s part of the life I’ve chosen. But today something happened that crossed a line."





He revealed that Mahieka was photographed inappropriately while walking down a staircase at a Bandra restaurant. Pandya labelled the act disrespectful and unacceptable.


"Mahieka was simply walking down a staircase at a Bandra restaurant when paparazzi decided to capture her from an angle that no woman deserves to be photographed from. A private moment was turned into cheap sensationalism," he stated.


"This isn’t about headlines or who clicked what, it’s about basic respect. Women deserve dignity. Everyone deserves boundaries," Pandya added.


"To the media brothers who work hard every day: I respect your hustle, and I always cooperate. But I’m requesting you all, please be a little more mindful. Not everything needs to be captured. Not every angle needs to be taken. Let’s keep some humanity in this game. Thank you," Pandya said.

Meanwhile, on the cricketing front, Pandya is close to achieving a rare milestone in T20Is. As India prepares for the five-match T20I series against South Africa starting December 9, the star all-rounder is just 140 runs away from completing 2,000 T20I runs and two wickets short of reaching the 100-wicket mark. If he succeeds, he will become only the second Indian bowler to reach the 100-wicket milestone in T20Is.


Pandya recently returned to action after recovering from a quadriceps injury suffered during the Asia Cup 2025. He proved his match fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a blistering 77 off 42 balls for Baroda.


India will begin their T20I series against South Africa in Cuttack, followed by matches in Mullanpur, Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad.



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