Overview:
Hardik posted his note to the paparazzi at a time when he is playing against South Africa.
Hardik Pandya has slammed the media following the release of photos and video clips featuring his girlfriend, Mahieka. The Indian all-rounder voiced disappointment at what he termed an unnecessary intrusion, as the viral footage of her leaving a Mumbai restaurant sparked widespread online chatter.
The cricketer posted a pointed message on his social media accounts, alleging that photographers went too far by spinning a normal outing into headline-chasing noise. Pandya acknowledged the spotlight that comes with fame, yet reminded the media that women deserve respectful and responsible coverage.
“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,” he posted on Instagram.
The reason why hardik pandya put insta story about her girl friend mahieka sharma…. https://t.co/QEfOjNt8eY pic.twitter.com/07ACAVLu0B
— సంచారి (@crazyy__tweets_) December 9, 2025
“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,” he added.
“Let’s keep some humanity in this game. Thank you,” he concluded.
Hardik posted his note to the paparazzi at a time when he is playing against South Africa.
Pandya has spent close to eight weeks on the sidelines, recovering from a quad issue he sustained at the Asia Cup in September.