Ekta Kapoor on Kangana Ranaut's exit from Lock Upp Season 2
Synopsis
Ekta Kapoor has wiped the slate clean for Lock Upp Season 2 — no Kangana Ranaut, no Karan Kundrra, a brand-new platform in Netflix, and two fresh jailers in Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan. The producer's blunt explanation: when everything about a show changes, nothing from the old version survives.
Key Takeaways
Ekta Kapoor confirmed Kangana Ranaut will not return for Lock Upp Season 2 , citing a complete format overhaul.
Season 2 will feature fourteen inmates , two jailers , and run for six weeks , streaming on Netflix .
Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan will serve as the new Jailers, replacing Karan Kundrra .
Confirmed inmates include actors Ram Kapoor , Shivangi Joshi , and Pamala Serena .
Season 1 was hosted by Kangana in 2022 ; Munawar Faruqui won the title.
Producer Ekta Kapoor has addressed the much-discussed absence of actress Kangana Ranaut from the second season of the reality show 'Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa', saying the show's format, vision, and overall dimension have been completely overhauled for the new edition. Kapoor made the remarks at the official launch event in Mumbai on 23 June.
What Ekta Kapoor Said
Speaking candidly at the launch, Kapoor explained that the transformation of the show was so sweeping that retaining any element from the original season — including its host — would have undermined the fresh identity being built for Season 2.
'The format changed so much, the whole vision of the show changed and the demographic, the kind of jailor-judge format we had, we had changed the full dimension of the show,' Kapoor said. 'So nothing of the original show has been kept, neither the jailor, nor the host. And so keeping anything from the old would not keep the fresh presentation from the brand new. So I am not sure how to answer,' she concluded.
A Look Back at Season 1
Kangana Ranaut hosted the debut edition of 'Lock Upp' in 2022, with Karan Kundrra serving as the Jailor throughout the season. The show followed contestants who faced real-world accusations and competed in a jail-like setting, completing tasks to earn basic necessities and win audience favour. Comedian Munawar Faruqui was crowned the winner of the first season.
What Season 2 Looks Like
The revamped edition will feature fourteen inmates, two jailers, and one lock-up spanning six weeks. Inmates must complete tasks to earn in-game currency, which is required even for basic necessities such as food, supplies, and privileges — raising the stakes considerably from the original format.
Actors Ram Kapoor, Shivangi Joshi, and Pamala Serena — known for her breakout role in Desi Bling — have been unveiled as among the newest inmates. Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan will serve as the two Jailers for the season.
Platform and Positioning
Season 2 of 'Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa' will stream exclusively on Netflix, marking a platform shift that itself signals the show's repositioning. Kapoor has described the new season not merely as a reality show but as a 'social experiment packed with entertainment, drama, and surprises at every turn.' The complete creative reset — new host, new jailers, new platform, new format — suggests Kapoor is betting on brand reinvention rather than continuity to win over viewers.
Point of View
But the subtext is clear: Lock Upp is being rebuilt from the ground up, and Kangana Ranaut — whose hosting in 2022 was polarising — was not part of that blueprint. Moving to Netflix from its original OTT home is the more consequential shift; it signals a push for a wider, potentially global audience. Whether a show built on courtroom-style moral judgment translates to Netflix's subscriber base is the real question the launch did not answer.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kangana Ranaut not in Lock Upp Season 2?
Producer Ekta Kapoor has said the show underwent such a sweeping format and vision change that no element from Season 1 — including the host — was retained. Kangana Ranaut hosted the debut season in 2022 but will not appear in the new edition.
Who are the Jailers in Lock Upp Season 2?
Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan have been named as the two Jailers for Season 2, replacing Karan Kundrra who held the role in Season 1.
Where will Lock Upp Season 2 stream?
Lock Upp Season 2 will stream exclusively on Netflix, marking a platform change from its original digital home.
Who are the confirmed inmates in Lock Upp Season 2?
Actors Ram Kapoor, Shivangi Joshi, and Pamala Serena have been unveiled as confirmed inmates. The season will feature a total of fourteen inmates over six weeks.
Who won the first season of Lock Upp?
Munawar Faruqui was named the winner of the first season of Lock Upp, which aired in 2022 and was hosted by Kangana Ranaut.
