Harshad Chopda clarifies bond with Shivangi Joshi on Lock Upp
Synopsis
On Lock Upp, Harshad Chopda — visibly rattled — invoked his departed mother to draw the line: his bond with Shivangi Joshi is sibling love, not romance. But housemate Akanksha Chamola's blunt counter — that the entire house sees something else — left the question more open than closed.
Key Takeaways
Harshad Chopda addressed his bond with Shivangi Joshi on Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa on 23 July , calling it a brother-sister relationship.
The confrontation was triggered by Shilpa Shinde calling Harshad and Shivangi 'lovebirds' during an argument over sleeping arrangements.
Chopda, aged 43 , said: 'I love her just as I love my sister, my departed mother, and my father.' Housemate Akanksha Chamola told Harshad the entire house believes he is 'madly in love' with Shivangi and that she 'controls' him.
Another housemate, Ram , independently described the pair's dynamic as a 'brother-sister relationship.'
Actor Harshad Chopda publicly addressed his relationship with co-star Shivangi Joshi during a charged episode of the reality show Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa, firmly rejecting the 'lovebirds' label and stating that his affection for her is purely that of a brother for a sister. The clarification came amid a heated confrontation with fellow contestant Shilpa Shinde on 23 July.
The Confrontation With Shilpa Shinde
The flashpoint was a disagreement over sleeping arrangements — specifically, a yoga mat — during which Shilpa Shinde reignited the 'lovebirds' tag she had previously applied to Harshad and Shivangi. Chopda responded with visible frustration, pivoting quickly from the domestic dispute to the question of his bond with Joshi.
'We all know what we are. What will aunty think? She trusts me. I know I am her friend. Imagine what she would think. Think about their families at least. She's supposed to get married now. Don't spread rumours. Her mother trusts me. I am her friend,' Harshad said during the argument.
Harshad Chopda's Clarification in His Own Words
Another housemate, Ram, could be heard in the background noting that the two share a 'brother-sister relationship.' Chopda went further, invoking his most personal relationships to drive the point home.
'I love her just as I love my sister, my departed mother, and my father. Have we ever done anything that you have seen? I might be too old to get married; at least think about her. I am 43,' he said.
He later elaborated the distinction to housemate Akanksha Chamola: 'My sister is my sister. My dad is my dad. I will explain you in one line — ‘I love you’ and ‘I am in love with you’ is different.'
Akanksha Chamola's Reality Check
Akanksha Chamola offered a candid counter-perspective, suggesting the spat could have been avoided had Harshad established his stance earlier. She also relayed the house's prevailing perception to him directly.
'(It seems) you are madly in love with her and she is using that fact… People think she doesn't show it, but she somewhere controls you. She takes advantage of this emotion of yours and you let that do it because you are in love,' Akanksha told him.
Harshad did not directly respond to Akanksha's assessment on camera, leaving the exchange unresolved and the housemates divided on what the dynamic between him and Shivangi truly represents.
Context: Harshad and Shivangi's On-Screen History
The pair are well known to audiences for their popular on-screen pairing, which has generated a devoted fan following. Their chemistry on-screen has long fuelled speculation about their off-screen relationship — speculation that Chopda has now, at least within the Lock Upp house, addressed head-on. Whether the clarification settles the debate among viewers remains to be seen as the show continues.
Point of View
The subject's own framing becomes just one data point. Reality television thrives precisely on this gap between self-perception and group perception, and Lock Upp is clearly mining it.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Harshad Chopda say about his relationship with Shivangi Joshi on Lock Upp?
Harshad Chopda stated on Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa that he loves Shivangi Joshi the same way he loves his sister, his father, and his departed mother — firmly rejecting any romantic interpretation. He made the clarification after co-contestant Shilpa Shinde repeatedly called him and Shivangi 'lovebirds.'
Why did Harshad Chopda argue with Shilpa Shinde on Lock Upp?
The argument began over a dispute about sleeping on a yoga mat, but escalated when Shilpa Shinde brought up the 'lovebirds' tag she had given Harshad and Shivangi. Chopda pushed back strongly, asking Shinde to consider the impact of such rumours on Shivangi's family and reputation.
What did Akanksha Chamola tell Harshad Chopda about Shivangi Joshi?
Akanksha Chamola told Harshad that the entire Lock Upp house believes he is 'madly in love' with Shivangi and that Shivangi 'controls' him by taking advantage of his emotions. She also suggested the ugly confrontation could have been avoided had Harshad clarified his stance earlier.
How old is Harshad Chopda and what did he say about marriage?
Harshad Chopda is 43 years old. During the argument, he said he might be 'too old to get married' and urged housemates to at least think about Shivangi's future, noting she is 'supposed to get married now.'
What is Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa?
Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa is an Indian reality television show in which celebrities are confined together and face various challenges and confrontations. The show features contestants including Harshad Chopda, Shivangi Joshi, Shilpa Shinde, and Akanksha Chamola, among others.
