Cinema VinesIn a dramatic turn during the latest episode of Lock Upp Season 2, Harshad Chopda chose to relinquish his spot as a finalist to protect co‑contestant Shivangi Joshi from eviction. The move, which sparked intense debate online, has now been addressed by the show’s host, Riteish Deshmukh, who weighed in on the controversy and the dynamics of the competition.
Chopda’s decision came after Shreya Kalra used her advantage to eliminate Shivangi, prompting the former to sacrifice his own place in the finale. As a result, Harshad was ousted from the show while Shivangi secured a position in the race for the Lock Upp trophy. Fans and critics have split over the act, with some praising Harshad’s selflessness and others accusing Shivangi of guilt‑tripping him into making the sacrifice.
Speaking to Variety India, Deshmukh explained that the game requires contestants to balance personal ambition with partnership. “When you care for someone as a friend, you support them,” he said. “It is not a one‑way thing on the show. Even Shreya and Shilpa look out for each other. You make partners in the game to figure out how to play. It is difficult, as at times you want to play together and at times, you need to play for yourself. These are calls you need to take. Eventually, there will be only one winner. I believe Harshad has played for himself too, and also looked out for Shivangi. Both of them also played as individuals. Sometimes, they take a stand for each other, which is wonderful to see.”
Deshmukh also emphasized his impartiality as host, stating he does not single out a favourite contestant. “I have enjoyed everyone's journey. Everyone has had their own ups and downs, had great two‑three weeks, followed by quieter one or two weeks. But I think towards the finale, almost all rose to the occasion. They gave their best and it has been wonderful. I like all of them. I like Shreya Kalra, Shilpa Shinde, Yogesh Rawat, Akanksha Chaudhary, Ram Kapoor, Pamala Serena, everyone. I miss having Sunita Ji (Sunita Ahuja) in the show,” he said.
When asked about his approach to managing contestants, Deshmukh admitted that he treats them differently based on their personalities and journeys. “A lot of players think they are done and do not want to do it again, so it is also about how you prep them up and motivate… so it is not just about yelling at them as a judge. Yes, there are certain things that need to be told, and one strictly adheres to that, but primarily one has to understand the contestant, and each one of them is different. I cannot deal with everyone the same way. So Farah and me and do our best to do that,” he explained.
