Reality shows Lock Upp 2 and Alliance unexpectedly found themselves at the centre of the same controversy after comments made on one show became the topic of discussion on the other. The latest episode of Alliance saw Kashish Kapoor question Kushal Tandon about allegations made by Shreya Kalra, who claimed on Lock Upp 2 that the actor had messaged her on social media while he was reportedly in a relationship with Shivangi Joshi.
Kushal denied the version of events presented on the Netflix reality show and offered his own account of how he and Shreya first connected. The exchange has since become one of the most talked-about moments from both reality series.
Kushal Tandon Denies Messaging Shreya First
During the episode, Kashish Kapoor directly brought up Shreya’s claims, asking Kushal about reports that he had flirted with her through Instagram direct messages while dating Shivangi Joshi.
Initially appearing confused, Kushal responded:
“Who is Shreya? First of all.”
After being reminded that Shreya Kalra had appeared in a promotional shoot for his television show Barsaatein – Mausam Pyaar Ka, Kushal recalled the collaboration and explained the circumstances behind it.
“Shreya Kalra? We were shooting a promo for our show (Barsaatein – Mausam Pyaar Ka), and Shreya was promised it would feature me. But it turned out to be just a passing shot of hers.”
The actor went on to reject the allegation that he initiated contact, insisting that Shreya had been the one to message him first.
“She texted me first, of course. I don’t DM girls. I have too much ego to DM girls myself. I only DM firangs (foreigners). Baatein to meri bohot hoti hain, aur hoti rehni chahiye. (I talk to them a lot, and I should keep doing it).”
Kushal also claimed that Shreya had accepted the promotional appearance because she believed she would be working alongside him. According to him, he even advised her that she deserved a better opportunity than the brief appearance she eventually received.
“Having said that, she said, aap promo kar rahe hain (you are doing this promo), and I want to do work with you, but I am not saying no. So I said, you should not have done this because it’s looking very stupid, you doing that passing shot. Tum aur bhi accha kar sakti ho than doing this. (You could do much better than this).”
What Shreya Kalra Claimed On Lock Upp 2
The controversy began after Shreya Kalra shared her version of events during an episode of Lock Upp 2, where she claimed Kushal had contacted her after the promotional shoot. She also alleged that she was unaware he was reportedly involved with Shivangi Joshi at the time.
“He DM’d me after the shoot. I was dating at that time. There was something between Kushal Tandon and Shivangi Joshi then. I didn’t know about it. He started speaking to me. I got a hunch and stopped.”
Shreya further claimed that she later discussed the matter directly with Shivangi after the two met on another set.
“Then, Shivangi and I met on the set, and she was like, he told me about you, that you followed and messaged him. I said, excuse me. I wouldn’t be the first person to approach any man. I’ve never done that in my entire life. I gave my phone to her. She read my whole chat. I didn’t flirt back, and I didn’t say anything.”
Neither Shivangi Joshi nor her representatives have publicly responded to Kushal’s latest comments at the time of writing.
Reality Show Drama Spills Across Platforms
The exchange has created an unusual crossover between two competing reality shows currently streaming on different platforms. While Alliance, hosted by Kunal Kemmu, continues to focus on interpersonal dynamics among contestants, Lock Upp 2, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan, has become known for contestants sharing personal stories and addressing controversies from outside the show.
With contestants discussing one another across different programmes, the latest controversy has generated fresh conversations among viewers online. For now, the claims made by Shreya Kalra and Kushal Tandon remain conflicting accounts, with each maintaining a different version of how their interaction began.
