Shashi Tharoor's Viral Picture With Journalist Runjhun Sharma: Why It Sparked Moscow Controversy, Photographs and Details

The Viral Photograph: Why Shashi Tharoor and Journalist Runjhun Sharma Are Sparking Controversy

NEW DELHI, India – December 13, 2025

Congress MP and prolific author Shashi Tharoor is once again at the center of a social media storm, this time following the circulation of a photograph featuring him with Moscow-based journalist Runjhun Sharma. The viral image, shared by Sharma herself, has triggered an avalanche of speculation, humorous commentary, and, inevitably, controversy across Indian social media platforms.

Viral Pictures of Shashi Tharoor With Russia based Journalist Runjhun Sharma that Sparked Controversy

Shashi Tharoor With Journalist Runjhun SharmaPicture: Shashi Tharoor With Journalist Runjhun Sharma

The photograph was reportedly taken during Tharoor’s recent visit to Moscow for an appearance on the Russian state-backed broadcaster, RT (Russia Today).

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Shashi Tharoor's Image With Runjhun Sharma That Sparked the Frenzy.

The photo shows the 69-year-old politician seated on a single-seater sofa in a relaxed setting. Journalist Runjhun Sharma is perched on the armrest next to him, with one hand resting on his shoulder and the other placed over his hand.

Sharma, who is the Head of News for RT India, posted the image on her Instagram with the caption: “After handing Britain a big, fat stack of colonial receipts. He's back. This time in Moscow. It's an #IndiaRussia special on RT.” The post quickly garnered tens of thousands of likes and was widely re-shared on X (formerly Twitter).

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The Nature of the "Controversy"

While there has been no official statement, clarification, or direct allegation from either Shashi Tharoor or Runjhun Sharma, the "controversy" is rooted entirely in social media interpretation and the informal pose captured in the image.
  • Online Speculation: Users immediately began speculating on the nature of the relationship, fueled by the intimate and relaxed proximity between the two. Memes and light-hearted comments about Tharoor's enduring "rizz" (charisma) at age 69 went viral, while some commentators made sharper, less appropriate remarks.
  • Professional Context: The professional link between the two is clear. Tharoor has a long-standing association with RT, having previously appeared in a 10-part series for the network based on his books detailing British colonial rule. His latest visit was for a program focused on India-Russia relations for the recently launched RT India channel.
  • Journalist’s Profile: Runjhun Sharma is a seasoned journalist and a prominent South Asia correspondent for RT, currently heading news operations for the India arm of the network. She has won multiple awards for gender sensitivity and political reporting.

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Shashi Tharoor’s Silence and the Public Aura

Both Shashi Tharoor and Runjhun Sharma have maintained silence on the resulting social media speculation. This silence has allowed the conversation to be driven by online assumptions and interpretations.

The incident is the latest in a series of personal episodes that have consistently placed the former UN diplomat in the national spotlight. For many of his followers, the viral picture is simply another testament to his long-established public aura and charisma, while critics view the attention through a more cynical lens.

Ultimately, the viral photo offers a strong demonstration of how a single, informal image can swiftly dominate India’s digital conversation, turning a professional meeting in Moscow into a widely debated public spectacle.

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