Harshad Chopda’s emotional exit from Lock Upp Season 2 has become one of the most talked-about moments of the reality show, but it isn’t just his sacrifice that has sparked conversation. After giving up his guaranteed place in the finale to save fellow contestant Shivangi Joshi, the actor also found himself at the centre of fresh dating rumours. Now, following his elimination, Harshad has broken his silence, revealing how even his family reacted to the speculation surrounding the two actors.
Speaking to the media after leaving the Netflix reality show, Harshad clarified that he and Shivangi share nothing more than a close friendship. He also defended her against criticism from viewers who felt she should have done more to stop him from sacrificing his place in the finale.
Harshad reveals his sister questioned the rumours
During the post-elimination press interaction, Harshad was asked about the viral videos and fan edits that portrayed him and Shivangi Joshi as a couple. Responding to the speculation, the actor revealed that his own sister confronted him after seeing the discussions online.
Harshad said, “Main kasam se bata raha hoon. Jaise ghar aya na, meri behen sabse pehle naraaz thi mujhse. Doston ne, aas paas mei jitna jo jo bola. To maine ye bola, accha ye vo samay hai ki mai dekhu naa. (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 admitted that he was surprised by the way viewers interpreted his bond with Shivangi inside the house. According to Harshad, he never intended to send any romantic signals and was simply being himself while spending time with someone he considers a close friend.
Clarifying his relationship with Shivangi, he said, “I was really surprised by how it’s being perceived. Because I was under the impression that I was being perceived as something else altogether. 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. As I mentioned before, we never had enough food to eat. But she would always share it with me.”
Harshad defends Shivangi after sacrificing his place
Harshad’s decision to give up his confirmed place in the finale became one of the defining moments of the season. After Shivangi Joshi faced elimination, the actor chose to swap places with her, ending his own journey in the competition. The emotional decision received mixed reactions, with some viewers questioning why Shivangi accepted the sacrifice instead of insisting that Harshad remain in the game.
Responding to that criticism, Harshad strongly defended his friend and insisted she had tried to stop him. Laughing while recalling the moment, he said, “Arre yaar. Bola to, usne kahan nahi bola? Main sun raha tha kya? Main sunta kya? (laughs) (But she had said it, when did she not say it? Was I even listening to her? Would I listen to her? Would I have listened to her?)”
His comments suggest that the decision was entirely his own and not something Shivangi encouraged. Throughout the season, Harshad frequently spoke about their friendship, explaining that they supported each other during difficult moments inside the Lock Upp house, especially when contestants struggled with limited food and the emotional pressure of the competition.
Lock Upp 2 heads into its grand finale
The dramatic elimination unfolded during the sixth week of the competition after Shreya Kalra earned a special advantage through a task and used it to eliminate Shivangi Joshi. However, Harshad, who had already secured a place in the finale by winning an earlier task, chose to surrender his finalist position so Shivangi could continue in the competition. His exit was followed by the eliminations of Akanksha Chamola and Varun Yadav.
With Harshad no longer in the race, the finalists for Lock Upp Season 2 are Shreya Kalra, Shivangi Joshi, Shilpa Shinde, Ram Kapoor and Yogesh Rawat. The winner will be crowned during the grand finale, which streams on Netflix at 8 PM on August 5, bringing an end to a season filled with emotional twists, unexpected alliances and headline-making moments.
