Akanksha Chamola fights back against trolls; Gaurav Khanna’s visit seen as name‑clearing move

Akanksha Chamola has taken to the airwaves to counter the wave of criticism that has followed her comments about her husband, Gaurav Khanna, during the second season of the reality show Lock Upp 2. The actress, who revealed on the show’s premiere that she and Khanna were heading for divorce, has been accused of “selective moral policing” after she said she would have preferred her parents or even her dog to visit her on the program instead of Khanna.

In a recent Zoom interview, Chamola explained that her remark was made at a time when she was in the midst of a divorce and did not want the person she was separating from to show up on the show. She added that Khanna had come to “clear his name” rather than to support her, and that he had not provided her with any information that would make her feel confident about her performance in the game. “I was getting divorced from Gaurav, so I didn’t want the person you are separating from to come and support you,” she said, adding that she was ready to apologise if she was wrong but asked for proof that she was.

Chamola criticised what she called selective moral policing, saying that people were offended by her comparison involving Khanna but not by her mention of her parents and dog. “Don’t moral‑police everything so much. If you are going to do it, then do it for everything. Don’t do it selectively,” she urged. She also pointed out that while her audience applauded her decision to divorce Khanna, they treated him as if he were on the same level as her parents.

Khanna entered the show as a guest in its third week, after Chamola’s announcement shocked their families. He told her that the revelation had forced him to juggle both sides of the family. Towards the finale, Chamola was heard telling a fellow contestant that she would have preferred her parents or even her dog to visit her instead of Khanna.

Chamola and Gaurav Khanna tied the knot on 24 November 2016 in a lavish three‑day wedding celebration after meeting and falling in love during an audition. The couple’s split has now become one of the most talked‑about storylines of the season, prompting Chamola to defend herself against the backlash and call for a more balanced approach to public scrutiny.