Akanksha Chamola has addressed the criticism surrounding her emotional revelation about her separation from husband Gaurav Khanna on Lock Upp Season 2. After her exit from the Netflix reality show, the actor responded to allegations that she disclosed the news of her divorce only to attract attention and boost the show’s popularity. Calling those claims unfair, Akanksha insisted that the legal process had already begun long before she entered the reality series.
Her comments come days after she surprised viewers by revealing that she and Gaurav Khanna had been living separately for a year. While the announcement quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the season, it also sparked debate on social media, with some questioning the timing of the disclosure.
Akanksha says the divorce is not for publicity
Speaking to the media after her eviction from Lock Upp Season 2, Akanksha strongly rejected claims that she discussed her personal life merely for publicity or television ratings. She stressed that no woman would publicly speak about such a sensitive matter unless it reflected the reality of her life.
Responding to the criticism, Akanksha said, “Mujhe nahi lagta koi bhi ladki itne bade platform par jaake TRP ke liye olegi ki main apne pati se divorce le rahi hoon. Aur jinko yeh lag raha hai unke baarien mein main kuch nahi bol sakti. Please mere ghar par aaye, meri legal team se baat kijiye. Ab bhi main jab bahar niklun hoon hum yahi saari cheezen sort kar rahe hain (I don’t think any woman would go on such a big platform and lie that she is getting divorced from her husband just for TRPs. And I can’t say anything about those who think that. Please come to my house and speak to my legal team. Even now, whenever I step out, we are still sorting out all these things).”
The actor further explained that discussions regarding the separation had begun well before she agreed to participate in the reality show. According to her, only the formal signing of legal documents remains, as the process itself has already been underway for some time.
She added, “Lock Upp mein jaane se pehle bhi umari legal teams iss baarien main baat kar rahi thi. It’s just that we have to sign the papers but yeh already process ho chuka hai. Yeh TRP ke liye hum nahi kar rahe hain. Jaise ki hum jab shaadi bhi kar rahe the tab bhi logon ko laga tha hum publicity ke liye kar rahe hain par aisa nahi hai. Just because hum actors hain iska mtlb yeh nahi hai ki hum jo bhi kar rahe hain bus publicity ke liye kar rahe hain (Our legal teams were discussing this even before I entered Lock Upp. It’s just that we have to sign the papers, but the process has already been completed. We are not doing this for TRPs. Even when we were getting married, people thought we were doing it for publicity, but that wasn’t the case. Just because we are actors doesn’t mean that everything we do is only for publicity).”
Her revelation shocked Lock Upp viewers
Akanksha first spoke publicly about her marriage during the premiere episode of Lock Upp Season 2, where contestants were asked to reveal personal secrets. During that moment, she announced that she and Gaurav Khanna had decided to part ways after spending the past year living separately.
She said, “Gaurav and I are getting a divorce. We have been living separately for the last one year, and it’s not been public. Things are not bad between me and Gaurav. We still talk to each other. We don’t think we are compatible as partners because we both see a very different future. And, unfortunately, it’s not with each other.”
Later in the season, Akanksha also revealed that one of the major reasons behind the separation involved differing views about starting a family. According to the actor, Gaurav wishes to have children, while she does not, making it difficult for the couple to see a shared future together.
Akanksha and Gaurav’s relationship
Akanksha Chamola and Gaurav Khanna were married in November 2016 after dating for several years. The two reportedly first met during an audition before their friendship gradually developed into a relationship. They eventually tied the knot in Gaurav’s hometown of Kanpur during a three-day wedding celebration attended by family and close friends.
For years, the couple was regarded as one of television’s popular pairs, often sharing glimpses of their relationship in interviews and public appearances. Although they are now moving ahead with legal proceedings to end their marriage, Akanksha has repeatedly stated that there is no bitterness between them and that they continue to communicate respectfully while finalising the separation
