Runjhun Sharma is one of the most searched names in Indian media right now. Her popularity is not only because she is the senior editor of RT India but also because of a set of viral photos from Moscow that showed her with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The pictures got a lot of attention on social media, but they took away from an important fact: Runjhun Sharma is a well-known broadcast journalist with years of experience reporting on international issues. She is known for her investigative skills, coverage of foreign affairs, and editorial leadership.
This in-depth profile gives a full picture of Runjhun Sharma’s life, including her family, education, journalism career, awards, public presence, and the reasons why she suddenly became a topic of conversation in the mainstream.
Runjhun Sharma Early Life and Education
- Runjhun Sharma likes to keep her personal life private, but information that is available to the public shows that she was born and raised in India, where she went to school. She became interested in media, world events, and communication at a young age, which led her to study journalism in college.
- She finished her college education in Delhi, where she learned about media law, reporting, broadcast journalism, and how international news works. She worked on student media projects, went to workshops, and took production classes during this time, which helped her start her career in television journalism.
- Her education helped her learn important skills like field reporting, news anchoring, long-form storytelling, and moderating interviews. These skills later helped her get high-profile editorial jobs
Early Career in Indian Media
Before she moved to the international desk, Runjhun Sharma started her career in Indian media by working in newsrooms, on location, and in the studio. She learned how to do the following:
- Report on politics
- Report on domestic news
- Report on social issues
- Anchor in the studio
- Make documentaries and features
She worked for established broadcast networks when she was younger, where she learned how to run and edit daily news shows. This experience was very helpful when she switched to reporting on foreign affairs.
Transition to International Journalism
- When Runjhun Sharma switched to international reporting, her career took a big turn. She became a well-known South Asia correspondent based in Moscow for RT (formerly Russia Today).
- She wrote about many geopolitical events from Moscow, such as: • India-Russia relations • Multilateral summits like BRICS, SCO, and G20 • Security issues in the region • Diplomatic negotiations and forums • Updates on humanitarian crises and conflicts
- She was one of RT’s most important voices on India-related issues because she could explain events in South Asia to people all over the world. Over time, she became known for her on-the-ground reporting, long-form explainers, and interviews with diplomats, political leaders, defense analysts, and other experts in the field.
Reporting Style and Editorial Strengths
Runjhun Sharma is known for his calm and analytical reporting style, which combines observations from the ground with a lot of background information. Some of her best skills are
- Analyzing foreign policy
- Reporting on conflicts
- Anchoring a studio with data-backed narration
- Moderating interviews with experts
- Telling stories in a documentary style
- Explaining geopolitics  Her editorial style usually focuses on factual context, insights related to diplomacy, and analysis that goes beyond the surface.
These are all things that have helped her build a strong professional identity in international journalism
Rise to Prominence as Head of News at RT India
RT started RT India, its editorial operation focused on India, in 2025. Runjhun Sharma was named Head of News/Chief Editor. This was a big step forward in her career.
 Why the Role is Important
- RT’s entry into the Indian media ecosystem is strategically important because:
- It increases Russia’s presence in India’s media.
- It brings an international player into a competitive Indian news market.
- It needs strong editorial leadership to connect Indian and global audiences.
- Runjhun Sharma is in charge of the following as Head of News:
- Content strategy and editorial direction
- Hiring and managing newsroom teams
- Overseeing broadcasts and news formats
- Setting RT India’s vision and programming,
Making sure that Indian media rules are followed, the job also makes her one of the few Indian journalists to run a major international news desk that is aimed at Indian readers.
Awards and recognition
- Runjhun Sharma has won many awards for her work as a journalist over the years. The public profiles say that she has won awards like the Laadli Media Award for gender-sensitive reporting and the Red Ink Award for impactful journalism.
- These awards show that she is well-respected in the journalism world and that she is dedicated to reporting on issues that matter to society.
High-Profile Journalism Assignments
Some of the big events and topics she has covered are
- Meetings between the heads of state in India and Russia
- Talks about expanding BRICS
- Meetings of G20 foreign ministers
- Sessions on regional security in the SCO
- Reporting from Moscow during geopolitical tensions
- Exclusive interviews with diplomats and regional experts  Her work abroad helped her become more well-known and gave her access to important people in diplomacy and policy.
Social Media Presence
Runjhun Sharma is active on social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. She posts: • Photos from behind the scenes
- Clips of global reporting
- Announcements for the RT program
- Updates on travel and culture
- Personal photos from time to time Â
Social media has been a big part of making her more well-known and changing how people see her.
The Viral Photographs with Shashi Tharoor: What Happened
Runjhun Sharma shared a series of photos from Moscow in December 2025. One of the photos showed her with Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress MP, author, and diplomat
Why the Photos Went Viral
- The pictures looked warm and friendly, which made people want to know more.
- They were posted on her verified social media accounts, which made them more credible and spread them farther.
- The news spread quickly, causing a lot of speculation.
- Shashi Tharoor’s long-standing popularity and charming public image made online reactions even stronger.
The pictures sparked conversations that ranged from admiration to speculation, but neither side made any official statements about their personal lives. Most of the reports said that the pictures were taken during interviews and recordings of programs in Moscow, which fits with her work there.
Public Reaction and Media Coverage
People who saw the pictures said things like: • Supportive and admiring comments • Meme-style jokes and fan edits • Political commentary • Questions about their professional association Indian digital media sites made the pictures into trending news, which made a lot more people want to learn about Runjhun Sharma and her background
Impact on Her Public Profile
The viral moment had several immediate effects:
- Increase in national visibility
People who didn’t know her as an international journalist suddenly learned about her profile and her job at RT India. - Growth in social-media following
Viral posts usually lead to a quick increase in followers, which makes your reach bigger. - Increased media scrutiny
As the Head of News for RT India, people naturally paid more attention to her personal posts. - Interest in RT India’s new operations
The viral buzz helped the new channel in an indirect way.
Overall, the event helped RT India get more attention at a time when they were getting ready to add more programming.
Journalistic Ethics and Public Discourse
When a journalist gains widespread attention, individuals begin to contemplate ethical boundaries, public expectations, and strategies for managing the media narrative. The talks about Runjhun Sharma are about bigger ideas:
- The blurry lines between personal social media posts and professional identity
- How people see journalists when they are photographed with politicians
- The role of state-funded international media in shaping domestic discourse
- The extra attention that women journalists get in particular Â
Even though there are still arguments going on, these kinds of conversations are common for people who work in public-facing media.
Future Outlook
Runjhun Sharma is likely to have a big impact on how the platform grows in India because of her job at RT India and the increased attention it has gotten from recent events. What she might do in the future is:
- Making the best international affairs shows
- Full-length documentaries about the relationship between India and Russia
- High-profile interviews with world leaders
- Representing RT India at important diplomatic summits
- Leading the way in how foreign policy is covered in the media
Her public profile will continue to be watched as she works at the crossroads of journalism and geopolitics.
Conclusion
Runjhun Sharma’s rise from a young journalism student in Delhi to the Head of News at RT India shows how hard work, travel, and a profound understanding of geopolitical reporting can shape a career. Her work at global summits, diplomatic events, and high-stakes foreign-policy developments has made her a trusted source in the international media. The recent viral pictures of Shashi Tharoor may have made her more well-known, but they are only a small part of a much larger professional story that includes years of reporting, analysis, and editorial leadership.
Runjhun Sharma is likely to continue to be an important person in shaping RT India’s editorial direction and public positioning as the company grows in India. Her growing power and profound knowledge of world events make her one of the new faces of international journalism linked to India. People who watch her work, whether it’s in the studio, on the field, or in public discourse, will probably keep talking about it, analyzing it, and getting involved with it.
Also read: Shivraj Patil Biography: Life, Political Career, 26/11 Controversy & Legacy (2025 Update)
