diff --git a/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink.py b/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink.py
index 5d66a2ef46..7817e60241 100644
--- a/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink.py
+++ b/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink.py
@@ -48,3 +48,20 @@ def _hardshrink_grad(op, grad):
     return _activation_so.ops.addons_hardshrink_grad(
         grad, op.inputs[0], op.get_attr("lower"), op.get_attr("upper")
     )
+
+
+def _hardshrink_py(
+    x: types.TensorLike, lower: Number = -0.5, upper: Number = 0.5
+) -> tf.Tensor:
+    if lower > upper:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "The value of lower is {} and should"
+            " not be higher than the value "
+            "variable upper, which is {} .".format(lower, upper)
+        )
+    x = tf.convert_to_tensor(x)
+    mask_lower = x < lower
+    mask_upper = upper < x
+    mask = tf.logical_or(mask_lower, mask_upper)
+    mask = tf.cast(mask, x.dtype)
+    return x * mask
diff --git a/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink_test.py b/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink_test.py
index d5d17201f2..63eff43ec5 100644
--- a/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow_addons/activations/hardshrink_test.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import tensorflow as tf
 from tensorflow_addons.activations import hardshrink
 from tensorflow_addons.utils import test_utils
+from tensorflow_addons.activations.hardshrink import _hardshrink_py
 
 
 @test_utils.run_all_in_graph_and_eager_modes
@@ -53,6 +54,30 @@ def test_theoretical_gradients(self, dtype):
         theoretical, numerical = tf.test.compute_gradient(hardshrink, [x])
         self.assertAllCloseAccordingToType(theoretical, numerical, atol=1e-4)
 
+    @parameterized.named_parameters(("float32", np.float32), ("float64", np.float64))
+    def test_same_as_py_func(self, dtype):
+        np.random.seed(1234)
+        for _ in range(20):
+            self.verify_funcs_are_equivalent(dtype)
+
+    def verify_funcs_are_equivalent(self, dtype):
+        x_np = np.random.uniform(-10, 10, size=(4, 4)).astype(dtype)
+        x = tf.convert_to_tensor(x_np)
+        lower = np.random.uniform(-10, 10)
+        upper = lower + np.random.uniform(0, 10)
+
+        with tf.GradientTape(persistent=True) as t:
+            t.watch(x)
+            y_native = hardshrink(x, lower, upper)
+            y_py = _hardshrink_py(x, lower, upper)
+
+        self.assertAllCloseAccordingToType(y_native, y_py, atol=1e-4)
+
+        grad_native = t.gradient(y_native, x)
+        grad_py = t.gradient(y_py, x)
+
+        self.assertAllCloseAccordingToType(grad_native, grad_py, atol=1e-4)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     tf.test.main()