Real-Life '12th Fail’ IPS Officer’s Throwback Photo With Wife Is Pure Gold

Inspired by the lakhs of students who dream of clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s latest film 12th Fail widely resonated with the masses. Starring Vikrant Massey in the lead, the film is based on true incidents, driving inspiration from real-life Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma. An integral part of the film was Manoj’s relationship with Shraddha Joshi, an aspiring Uttarakhand Public Service Commission (UKPSC) Officer. In real life, Manoj’s wife Shraddha is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer. Recently, Manoj dropped a throwback picture with his wife on X (formerly Twitter) which soon grabbed the attention of many.

Sharing the picture in the caption, Manoj Kumar Sharma explained that it was clicked just a few days after his wedding with Shraddha Joshi. “Today I found a photo taken a few days after the wedding,” he wrote. The photograph captures Manoj sporting a police uniform as he holds the hand of his then newly-wed wife. Shraddha donned a yellow saree. The duo posed against a waterbody, sharing beaming smiles.

Soon after the post surfaced on X, social media users were quick to react to the snapshot. Highlighting Manoj Kumar Sharma and Shraddha Joshi’s love story, one individual commented, “You are lucky that the whole country is watching and appreciating your love story today! Especially Shraddha’s (dialogue), ‘Manoj, whether you run a mill or become an IPS, I want to spend my life with you!”. Taking note of Manoj’s honesty above all philosophy, another quipped, “Through 12th Fail movie, God has rewarded you for your honesty, today the whole country is paying tribute to your honesty.”

“After watching the movie I could not sleep for 2-3 days. You are an amazing man, sir. Nowadays the concept of equity in employment is quite popular in the West. This is the same concept that you spoke about in the interview eighteen years ago. The one who climbs Everest barefoot without oxygen support is more deserving,” read another positive remark.

So far, the adorable post has garnered over 7 lakh views and more than 26,000 likes on the microblogging platform. 12th Fail revolved around the aspiration of a poverty-stricken man who faces umpteen obstacles in his personal life but with one goal — clearing the UPSC examination and becoming an IPS Officer. The film has become a beacon of hope for many aspirants.