Internet fumes as TV show Rimjhim shows Yashika Sharma, 16, in intimate scene with adult co-star: 'Why is it even legal'

Rimjhim - Choti Umar Bada Safar, which airs on Dangal TV, stars Yashika Sharma and Himanshu Awasthy in the lead roles.

Published on: Jan 29, 2026, 10:47:48 IST

By Abhimanyu Mathur

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

TV show Rimjhim - Choti Umar Bada Safar has landed itself in controversy after its most recent episode drew criticism online for having its underage female lead perform intimate scenes with her male co-star. The show, focused on the romantic relationship between a teenager and an adult, stars Yashika Sharma, 16, and Himanshu Awasthy, 24.

Yashika Sharma and Himanshu Awasthy in a still from the January 28 episode of Rimjhim.

Rimjhim's controversial scene

The recent episode of the show aired on Dangal TV on Wednesday, January 28. It features a scene in which Sameer (Himanshu) takes off his shirt in front of Rimjhim (Yashika), pulls her close, and puts it on her after noticing her blouse has come undone. The scene ends with a warm embrace between the two. Another scene earlier in the show has the two actors in bed together. These scenes, along with a focus on Rimjhim’s bare back, have sparked outrage online.

In which world is it okay for a 15 year old to shoot such intimate scenes?
byu/Cholebhature23 inIndianTellyTalk

Internet fumes

Clippings and screengrabs from the episodes were shared on Reddit on Wednesday night. One was shared with the caption: “In which world is it okay for a 15 year old to shoot such intimate scenes?” Another commented, “Why is it even legal?” Many wondered why TV shows did not cast adult actors if the show required such sequences. “There aren't any LEGAL females in the country who can act in these serials? Why are they getting minor girls for these romantic lead roles, it's bloody EWWWW man wtf,” read one angry comment.

Others pointed out that Indian TV shows routinely sexualise actors in the age bracket of 15-18 across various shows. “Ewwww!! Stop sexualizing minors!! I can never forget how traumatised I got when i saw Reem Shaikh romancing Sehban Azim when she was 16ish and he was above 30,” wrote one. Many comments urged Yashika’s parents or guardians to step in and put a stop to this.

The actors, production house, or the channel have not commented on the reaction to the episode so far.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhimanyu Mathur
Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.