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Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya on Tuesday lashed out at a section of paparazzi after controversial pictures and videos of his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma were shared on social media platforms. Hardik criticised the media personnel for 'crossing the line' with what he called an invasion of privacy.
Hardik took to his Instagram story to call out the paps after pictures of his girlfriend Mahieka leaving a restaurant in Mumbai's Bandra went viral. The Indian cricketer accused the photographers of capturing Mahieka's pictures and videos from wrong angles, bashing them for turning a private moment into 'cheap sensationalism'.
The Indian cricketer posted a strongly-worded statement on social media, where he urged the media personnel to treat women with 'dignity and restraint'. He admitted that as celebrities the couple are bound to draw attention, wherever they go, however, the star all-rounder requested the paparazzi to respect boundaries.
"I understand that 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," Hardik said in an Instagram story on Tuesday, December 09. 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," Hardik wrote on his Instagram story.
"This isn't about headlines or who clicked what, it's about basic respect. Women deserve dignity. Everyone deserves boundaries. 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," he added.
Hardik has been dating Mahieka, a model, after separating from his ex-wife, Natasa Stankovic. The Indian cricketer made his relationship official with Mahieka by sharing pictures with her on Instagram earlier this year. The couple later made their first appearance together at the Mumbai airport.
Hardik made his relationship with Mahieka official, months after amicably separating from his former wife, Natasa. Hardik and Natasa got divorced last year, ending their four-year marriage. However, the duo continue to co-parent their only son, Agastya. Hardik was recently spotted spending time with Mahieka and his family during his break away from international cricket as he recovered from a left quadricep injury.
After a long spell on the sidelines due to injury, Hardik is set to make his comeback for India in the five-match T20I series against South Africa, which gets underway on Wednesday, December 09. Hardik is with the rest of the Indian squad in Cuttack, where the hosts will take on the Proteas in the first T20I at the Barabati Stadium.
Hardik recently returned to full fitness after recovering from his quadricep injury and played for Baroda in their clash against Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Hardik is a certain starter for India in the series opener against South Africa in Cuttack and will be hoping to set the ball rolling on his comeback.
The star all-rounder is on the cusp of becoming the first Indian to achieve the rare double of 100 wickets and 2000 runs in T20Is. Hardik needs only two wickets and 140 runs to achieve the elusive feat. He will become only the 4th player from a Test-playing nation to achieve the feat if he manages to get to 100 wickets and 2000 runs in the South Africa series.
