Shreya Kalra on Lock Upp 2 finale: 'Their cornering made me stronger'
Synopsis
Shreya Kalra's Lock Upp 2 journey is a textbook case of a strategy backfiring — contestants who repeatedly cornered her ended up handing her a finale berth. Her candid admission that she 'only wanted to stay two weeks' makes the turnaround all the more striking as five finalists now battle for the title.
Key Takeaways
Shreya Kalra was named the second finalist on Lock Upp 2 , after Shivangi Joshi .
At Risk contestants Akanksha Chamola , Shilpa Shinde , and Ram Kapoor made the call to send Shreya to the finale.
Shreya credited rivals' repeated attempts to isolate her as the reason she reached the finale.
Five contestants remain: Shilpa Shinde , Ram Kapoor , Yogesh Rawat , Shreya Kalra , and Shivangi Joshi .
Lock Upp 2 is hosted by Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh ; the first edition was won by Munawar Faruqui in 2022 .
Actress Shreya Kalra has opened up about her journey on Lock Upp 2, crediting the repeated attempts by fellow contestants to isolate her as the very reason she secured a spot in the show's finale. The Indore-born actress, who entered the competition with modest expectations, says the strategy of her rivals ultimately backfired on them.
How the Finale Spot Was Decided
In the latest episode of Lock Upp 2, three At Risk contestants — Akanksha Chamola, Shilpa Shinde, and Ram Kapoor — named Shreya as the second finalist, following Shivangi Joshi. The decision came as a direct consequence of the group's strategy to repeatedly target Shreya throughout the competition.
Shreya's Take on the Group's Tactics
During a candid conversation with her friend Shilpa Shinde, Shreya questioned why experienced contestants failed to recognise the strategic blunder of ganging up on a single participant. She singled out Yogesh Rawat, who has appeared on two previous reality shows, as someone who should have known better.
'Well, I can understand that Ram has no reality show background, nor does Varun, but Yogesh can't see what's happening? Seriously, you have done two reality shows. If I were in that group, I'd still die with the person who is getting cornered,' Shreya said.
She added: 'You kept cornering that person and made her the finalist. She reached the finale because of your foolishness. I am not that smart. In the beginning I only wanted to stay for two weeks.'
Who Remains in the Race
With the finale approaching, five contestants are left in the competition: Shilpa Shinde, Ram Kapoor, Yogesh Rawat, Shreya Kalra, and Shivangi Joshi. The show is co-hosted by Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh in its second edition.
About Lock Upp 2 and Shreya's Background
The second season of Lock Upp features 14 inmates, 2 jailers, and runs for 6 weeks, with inmates completing tasks to earn in-game currency for food, supplies, and privileges. The first edition, hosted by Kangana Ranaut in 2022 with Karan Kundrra as Jailor, was won by Munawar Faruqui.
Shreya, originally from Indore, first came to national attention on MTV Roadies in 2020 as a wildcard entry under Nikhil Chinapa's team. She has also appeared in the music video 'Zariya Tu' alongside Paras Kalnawat. As the finale nears, her underdog arc has emerged as one of the season's defining narratives.
Point of View
Inadvertently creating the season's most sympathetic arc. Yogesh Rawat, a two-time reality show veteran, should have known the 'cornering' playbook rarely works in audience-voted formats — it consolidates goodwill around the underdog. Lock Upp 2's producers have clearly benefited from the drama, but the real story is how strategic overreach by the group handed an Indore wildcard the most compelling narrative of the season.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Shreya Kalra reach the Lock Upp 2 finale?
Shreya Kalra was named the second finalist on Lock Upp 2 after At Risk contestants Akanksha Chamola, Shilpa Shinde, and Ram Kapoor chose her. She attributes her finale spot to rivals repeatedly targeting her throughout the competition, which she says strengthened her position rather than weakening it.
Who are the remaining contestants in Lock Upp 2?
Five contestants remain as the finale approaches: Shilpa Shinde, Ram Kapoor, Yogesh Rawat, Shreya Kalra, and Shivangi Joshi. Shivangi Joshi was named the first finalist, with Shreya Kalra following as the second.
Who hosts Lock Upp 2?
Lock Upp 2 is hosted by Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh. The first edition in 2022 was hosted by Kangana Ranaut, with Karan Kundrra serving as Jailor and Munawar Faruqui winning the title.
What is Shreya Kalra known for before Lock Upp 2?
Shreya Kalra is from Indore and gained initial recognition as a wildcard contestant on MTV Roadies in 2020, where she was part of Nikhil Chinapa's team. She has also appeared in the music video 'Zariya Tu' alongside Paras Kalnawat.
What are the rules of Lock Upp 2?
Lock Upp 2 features 14 inmates, 2 jailers, and runs for 6 weeks. Contestants must complete tasks to earn in-game currency, which is used to obtain necessities such as food, supplies, and privileges inside the lock-up.
