Akanksha Chamola Claims Gaurav Khanna Cleared His Name On Lock Upp 2

Television actress Akanksha Chamola has opened up about her time on Lock Upp Season 2, addressing the intense public scrutiny surrounding her marriage and subsequent separation from television actor Gaurav Khanna. During the reality show’s premiere, Akanksha revealed that the couple was heading for a divorce and had been living separately.

Akanksha Chamola Breaks Silence on Gaurav Khanna’s Lock Upp 2 Visit

The situation escalated when Gaurav entered the show as a guest during the third week, telling Akanksha that her public announcement had shocked their families and that he had been left to deal with both sides. Later in the season, Akanksha remarked that she would have preferred her parents or even her dog to visit her instead of Gaurav. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Akanksha explained her reasoning behind the comment, stating that she did not want an estranged spouse visiting during a separation because she could not be certain of his intentions.

At that point, I was getting divorced from Gaurav, so I didn’t want the person you are separating from to come and support you. Because you don’t know, right, in what way they have come. And vo apna naam clear karne ke liye vaha pe aaye the (He came to clear his name), Akanksha said, according to NDTV. She added that he provided no game-related encouragement to help her performance.

Addressing Backlash and ‘Selective Moral Policing’

Akanksha’s remarks inside the Lock Upp 2 house drew heavy backlash from viewers, particularly regarding her comparison involving her husband, parents, and dog. Addressing the criticism in an interview with Zoom, she accused critics of engaging in selective moral policing by focusing solely on the mention of Gaurav while ignoring the identical context in which she placed her family members.

Akanksha Chamola Claims Gaurav Khanna Cleared His Name On Lock Upp 2 — Photo: iDiva

Don’t moral-police everything so much. And if you are going to do it, then do it for everything. Don’t do it selectively. Then applaud the fact that she is getting divorced from Gaurav, but she has placed him on the same level as her parents, she stated, as reported by NDTV.

The couple originally married on November 24, 2016, in Kanpur after meeting at an audition. According to reports, they have been living apart for approximately a year and are yet to finalize their divorce paperwork.

Response to Orry’s Claims of Clout-Chasing

The controversy expanded beyond the reality show when Orhan Awatramani, widely known as Orry—who participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi 15 alongside Gaurav—accused Akanksha of utilizing her estranged husband’s popularity to garner attention and views. Orry alleged in social media comments that Akanksha was trying to damage Gaurav’s reputation for personal gain.

Reacting to these allegations during an interview with Telly Masala, Akanksha dismissed the idea that one person can simply leverage another’s fame. How can someone use another person’s popularity? No one can do that. So that person needs to get out from that concept first, she stated, noting that the attention she received stemmed organically from the audience rather than any deliberate campaign on her part.

Despite the sharp criticism from Orry, Akanksha noted that she harbored no anger toward him, acknowledging that individuals are entitled to their own opinions. Meanwhile, filmmaker Farah Khan also weighed in on the dynamic during a cooking vlog, describing Gaurav as a very good husband and noting how information from home visibly affected Akanksha’s emotional state and gameplay inside the house.