Harshad Chopda opens up after sacrificing Lock Upp 2 finale spot for Shivangi

Harshad Chopda has spoken after leaving Lock Upp 2 and giving Shivangi Joshi his finalist spot. His exit, emotional restraint and personal disclosures kept him at the centre of pre-finale discussion.

In Short

• Tejasswi Prakash said Harshad’s early departure from the reality show surprised her
• He described his strategy as being himself rather than playing tactically
• Harshad admitted he tried hard to keep his emotional side hidden

Actor Harshad Chopda broke his silence after his emotional exit from Lock Upp 2, saying he consciously avoided showing his vulnerable side on the reality show. The actor, who gave up his place in the finale so that Shivangi Joshi could advance, reflected on his journey in his first interaction after leaving the Netflix series.

Harshad had earned a direct ticket to the finale in Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa. However, in one of the season's most talked-about moments, he chose to walk away from the competition and handed his finalist spot to Shivangi. Despite fellow contestants urging him to reconsider, he stood by his decision.

'My game was that of no game'

Speaking to Tejasswi Prakash on her show Shut Upp With Tejasswi, after his eviction, Harshad described his approach to the competition as one of authenticity rather than strategy.

"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 about how people would react. The only side that I didn't want to show was my emotional side," he said.

Tejasswi admitted she did not expect Harshad to leave the show so early. She also joked that he cried far more often than viewers may have expected, leaving the actor laughing. She further observed that instead of playing for himself, Harshad spent much of the season protecting Shivangi Joshi.

Responding to the remark, Harshad said 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, with limited food and constant challenges, the situation evolved naturally. We weren't thinking about what would happen next," he said.

Personal revelations on the show

Harshad's stint on Lock Upp 2 also stood out for the deeply personal experiences he chose to share.

During the show's premiere, hosts Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh asked why he had always kept his personal life away from the public eye despite spending more than two decades in the television industry.

Opening up about a painful chapter from his past, Harshad said, "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 shared that he had experienced sexual abuse as a child, saying such incidents affect far more children than people realise. Harshad stressed the importance of raising children with care, empathy and awareness. His revelation left several housemates, including Shivangi Joshi and Ram Kapoor, visibly emotional.

Finale tonight

Hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan, Lock Upp 2 follows celebrities living inside a jail-themed house as they compete through tasks while confronting allegations and public perceptions.

The show's grand finale will stream tonight, with the winner taking home a cash prize of Rs 1 crore. The top five finalists of the season are Shivangi Joshi, Shreya Kalra, Ram Kapoor, Shilpa Shinde and Yogesh Rawat.

- Ends