Cinema VinesIn a surprising turn of events on the reality‑drama series Lock Upp 2, television star Harshad Chopda publicly addressed rumours of a romantic link with co‑contestant Shivangi Joshi. The actor, who had secured a finalist position early in the competition, revealed that he voluntarily relinquished his spot in order to protect his friend, a decision that ultimately led to his elimination from the show.
During a press conference following his departure, Chopda explained that the speculation had upset his sister, who was the first to express discontent upon his return home. He said, “I swear, the first person to be mad at me after I came home was my sister. Friends and others have said various things. I realised, okay, now I need to see what happened.” The actor stressed that his relationship with Joshi is purely platonic, noting that he had even asked other cast members to shield her from elimination in earlier episodes before choosing to give up his own place.
Chopda’s comments came after a week‑six culling in which Shreya Kalra used a task advantage to eliminate Joshi. However, Chopda, who had already advanced to the finals through a separate task, swapped places with her, effectively saving her from eviction. The move was seen by many as a gesture of loyalty, though some viewers questioned why Joshi did not intervene to prevent the trade.
Despite the controversy, Chopda defended his actions, stating, “I was just being myself, and we are good friends. I think nothing of what she has done for me wasn’t shown on the show.” He added that their friendship had always been marked by mutual support, citing moments when Joshi would share food with him when he was short on supplies.
The finale of Lock Upp 2 is set to stream on Netflix at 8 PM on August 5, with finalists Shreya Kalra, Shivangi Joshi, Shilpa Shinde, Ram Kapoor, and Yogesh Rawat competing for the top prize. Fans of the show will now watch to see how Chopda’s sacrifice impacts the final standings and whether the rumours surrounding his relationship with Joshi will fade into the background of the series’ dramatic conclusion.
