Television actor Harshad Chopda recently walked out of the reality show Lock Upp 2 after giving up his finale spot for co-contestant and friend Shivangi Joshi. Now, in his first conversation after leaving the show, the actor has broken his silence on why he made that choice and what he truly felt during his time inside the jail-themed house.
Chopda had secured the first finalist position on the show hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan. But in a surprising turn of events, he chose to sacrifice his place so that Shivangi could continue in the competition. The decision left viewers and fellow contestants shocked. Many praised his selfless act, while others questioned why he would give up a hard-earned spot.
Harshad Chopda Explains His ‘No Game’ Strategy on Lock Upp 2
During his first interview after the eviction, Chopda spoke to Tejasswi Prakash on her show Shut Upp With Tejasswi. He admitted that he never entered the competition with a strategy to outsmart others. Instead, he wanted to stay true to himself.
“My game was that of a no game. I thought this is a show where you are going to be yourself. I was not worried how people would react. The only one side that I didn’t want to show was my emotional side.”
Tejasswi pointed out that despite his efforts to hide his emotions, Chopda was often seen crying on the show. She joked that he cried more than viewers might have expected, which made the actor laugh.
She also observed that instead of playing for himself, Chopda spent most of the season protecting Shivangi Joshi, almost becoming her shield. Responding to this, Chopda explained that their friendship naturally shaped his decisions inside the house.
“Because we have been friends for a little while and when we got into that scenario where there are 15-16 people… which was challenging in the sense that food was less, then automatically the situation became such that we did not think what happened next.”
The Emotional Task That Led to Harshad Chopda’s Exit
The sequence of events that led to Chopda’s exit began with a task to decide the first finalist of Lock Upp 2. Contestants were asked to choose one person to move closer to the finale. Several contestants, including Laila, Shilpa Shinde, Ram Kapoor, and Akanksha Chamola, voluntarily stepped out of the race, leaving only Harshad Chopda and Shivangi Joshi in the cell.
During their conversation, Chopda made a confession that surprised Shivangi. He admitted that he had deliberately lost a previous challenge.
“I did lose that game,” he told Shivangi.
His revelation left Shivangi emotional as she tried to understand why he had given up an earlier opportunity. Both contestants initially insisted that the other deserved to stay. However, Chopda later stood by his decision to remain, explaining that he had not yet received a chance to play for himself.
After host Riteish Deshmukh asked them to make a final call, Shivangi chose to step out, making Chopda the first finalist of Lock Upp 2.
But the drama did not end there. Shreya Kalra, who had won a special advantage, was given the power to eliminate one contestant. She chose Shivangi Joshi, putting her journey at risk.
Chopda broke down in tears and pleaded with Shreya not to evict Shivangi. Seeing his emotional state, Riteish Deshmukh offered him a choice: give up his finalist position and leave the show in exchange for Shivangi’s safety. Without hesitation, Chopda agreed.
He walked away from the competition so Shivangi could continue her journey. Before exiting, he asked her to go on and win the show.
Personal Revelations Shocked Fellow Contestants
Chopda’s time on Lock Upp 2 was not just about the game. He also opened up about deeply personal experiences that he had never shared publicly before.
During the show’s premiere, hosts Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh asked him why he had always kept his personal life away from the public eye, despite spending more than two decades in the television industry.
Chopda then revealed a painful chapter from his past. He shared that in 2010, he lost both his girlfriend and his best friend after discovering they had betrayed his trust.
“My fans complained that no one knows anything about me, but I was not always like this. When I came into the industry, I was socially active. I lost my friend and my girlfriend at the same time in 2010. My girlfriend cheated on me with my best friend, and from then on, I have grown a little wary.”
He also opened up about being sexually harassed during his childhood. He said that many children go through similar experiences and spoke about the importance of raising children with care and love.
His revelations left Shivangi Joshi and fellow contestant Ram Kapoor emotional.
Social Media Reacts to Harshad Chopda’s Sacrifice
The dramatic moment quickly became a talking point on social media. Fans were divided over Chopda’s decision to give up his finale spot.
Some viewers praised his selfless gesture and called it one of the most emotional moments of the season. Others criticised him for sacrificing his hard-earned spot instead of fighting till the end.
One user on X wrote, “More stupid than selfless… he should’ve played for himself and fought for his place”. Another commented, “Feeling bad for Harshad but this guy is a big let down for his fans. He made the biggest joke out of his own”.
Several users also felt he prioritised Shivangi’s journey over his own, with some questioning whether the decision was the right one for his game. Others accused him of emotional blackmail, suggesting his confession put pressure on Shivangi to sacrifice her chances.
One user on X wrote, “STFU Harshad, stop doing emotional blackmail, she’s just fighting for her self and playing her game this is why she came here.. She never asked uh to play for her self in any task, u chose it so please stop behaving like”.
However, there were also fans who supported Chopda. They claimed that he had always been supporting Shivangi throughout the season and deserved to think of himself as well.
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What Happens Next on Lock Upp 2
Lock Upp 2 is a reality show where celebrities live inside a jail-themed house. They must survive by completing tasks while dealing with allegations made against them. The show streams on Netflix.
According to reports, the grand finale of Lock Upp 2 is scheduled to take place on August 5, 2026. The winner will take home a cash prize of ₹1 crore.
The show remained on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV Series list for two weeks and became the second-most-watched Indian unscripted title by viewing hours. It also generated 2.5 billion social media mentions within three weeks of its launch.
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