Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya expressed his frustration after paparazzi recently took photos of his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, from an unsuitable angle. The all-rounder, who is preparing to rejoin the Indian team for the first time since September, posted a strong message on his Instagram story, stating that a clear boundary had been overstepped.
I recognize that being in the spotlight involves both attention and criticism, as it's a consequence of the path I've chosen. However, today an incident occurred that went too far. Mahieka was merely descending a staircase at a Bandra eatery when photographers chose to snap her from an inappropriate angle. This private moment was exploited for cheap sensationalism," Hardik expressed.
The Indian all-rounder was displeased with the incident and called for more respectful treatment of women in the country. Hardik emphasized that although he has consistently shown respect to the media, it is crucial to understand that not everything should be driven by clicks, audience numbers, and sensationalism.
This isn't about headlines or who clicked on what; it's about fundamental respect. Women deserve dignity, and everyone deserves boundaries. To my fellow media professionals who work diligently every day: I respect your efforts and always collaborate. However, I ask you all to be a bit more considerate. Not everything needs to be documented, and not every perspective needs to be captured. Let's maintain some humanity in this field. Thank you," he concluded.
Hardik revealed in October this year that he was in a relationship with Mahieka, shortly after rumors started circulating. The cricketer posted multiple pictures of Mahieka on his Instagram Stories, one of which showed them together in a swimming pool. He expressed her importance to him by referring to her as his '11:11 wish.'
Everything regarding the relationship between Hardik and Mahieka
Hardik provided fans with an insight into what he regards as the three mainstays of his life: cricket, his son Agastya, and Mahieka. In an Instagram post called 'My Big 3,' he posted a collection of moments with the trio – including pictures of him and Mahieka doing a pooja together and a short video of him giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. Additional images depicted the couple exercising together and a fun mirror selfie of Hardik holding her in his arms.
Prior to his romance with Mahieka gaining attention, Hardik was associated with UK singer Jasmin Walia. She was observed supporting him at the stadium and was also seen on the Mumbai Indians team bus following an IPL game against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Later reports indicated that they eventually parted ways and stopped following each other on social media.
Hardik was formerly married to actress and model Nataša Stanković. They amicably separated last year, sharing their decision via a joint statement on social media. The statement read, 'After four years together, we have chosen to go our separate ways. We did our utmost and gave it our all, believing this is best for both of us. This was a difficult decision, considering the happiness, respect, and companionship we experienced while building our family.' Hardik and Nataša remain committed to co-parenting their five-year-old son, Agastya.