Sunita Ahuja on co-star bonds: 'Heroes spend more time with heroines than wives'
Synopsis
Sunita Ahuja's defence of Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda's friendship cuts to a rarely-stated truth in Indian showbiz: actors routinely spend more waking hours with co-stars than with their spouses, and the industry quietly accepts it. Coming from someone whose own marriage to Govinda is reportedly under strain, the remarks carry an unspoken weight that goes well beyond Lock Upp 2.
Key Takeaways
Sunita Ahuja defended the close friendship between Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda that developed during Lock Upp Season 2 .
She argued that Bollywood heroes often spend more time with their female co-stars than with their wives, making such bonds natural.
Sunita pushed back against claims that Shivangi was 'using' Harshad, calling the friendship a product of shared professional time.
She noted that Shivangi's mother sent home-cooked food to the set — a gesture she described as normal human warmth.
Both Shivangi and Harshad have consistently maintained they are good friends, not romantically involved.
Sunita's remarks come amid reported tensions in her own marriage to actor Govinda .
Television personality and actress Sunita Ahuja has weighed in on the widely discussed friendship between actors Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda, saying the bond that developed between them during their time on Lock Upp 2 is entirely natural and should not be misread as anything more. Her remarks, captured in a video released by Balaji Telefilms, offer a candid window into how veteran entertainers view co-star relationships in the Indian film and television industry.
What Sunita Ahuja Said
Drawing from her own experience in the industry, Sunita argued that prolonged professional proximity inevitably fosters closeness. 'Ab dekho jaise humare heroes hain, humse zyada toh heroine log ke saath rahe the toh unki bonding ho jaati hai,' she said — roughly translated: 'Our heroes spend more time with their heroines than they do with us, so a bond develops between them.'
Pushing back against allegations that Shivangi was 'using' Harshad, Sunita said she saw nothing problematic in the two actors forming a close friendship. 'Main sochti hoon ki inhone saath mein kaam kiya hai, toh inki bonding toh ho jaati hai,' she added, noting that shared work is a sufficient explanation for any emotional closeness.
On Romantic Scenes and Boundaries
Sunita also addressed the specific dynamic that arises when actors shoot intimate or romantic sequences together. She acknowledged that such scenes can create a degree of comfort between performers, but cautioned against leaping to conclusions. 'See, if you're doing romantic scenes, kahin na kahin ek ho jaata hai na, but aap dhyan rakhna iska, ye nahi ki aap bolo ki iska affair hai. Chalo, woh uska personal life hai, main usme kyun bolu?' she said — meaning that while closeness may develop, labelling it an affair oversteps into personal territory.
Shivangi's Mother and the Human Element
Sunita recalled a detail that, in her view, reflects the warmth of ordinary human relationships rather than anything scandalous: Shivangi's mother reportedly sent home-cooked meals to the set while the two actors were shooting together. 'But all natural ho jaata hai insaan ka, toh usme kya kharab hai?' she said, suggesting such gestures are simply expressions of care. Sunita added that both Harshad and Shivangi had always been warm toward her, and that she had never viewed their equation through a romantic lens.
Context: Lock Upp 2 and the Speculation
The friendship between Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda became one of the more discussed storylines of Lock Upp Season 2, with emotional exchanges and visible closeness prompting viewer speculation. Both actors, however, consistently described each other as good friends and did not confirm any romantic involvement.
Sunita's comments arrive at a moment when her own personal life is under public scrutiny. Her marriage to actor Govinda has reportedly been strained, with both partners making pointed remarks about each other in public forums. Her decision to speak openly about co-star dynamics is being read by some observers as a reflection of that broader context — though she herself framed her remarks as a general defence of professional bonding in the entertainment industry.
Point of View
But rarely stated this plainly by an industry insider. Her framing — that male stars spend more time with heroines than with their wives — is a frank acknowledgement that the industry's working conditions routinely test personal relationships. Given that her own marriage is reportedly under public strain, her insistence that such bonds are 'natural and harmless' reads as both a defence of colleagues and, perhaps, a personal rationalisation. Mainstream coverage has focused on the Shivangi-Harshad angle; the more revealing story is what Sunita's candour says about how Bollywood's inner circle privately navigates proximity and loyalty.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sunita Ahuja say about Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda?
Sunita Ahuja said the close bond between Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda during Lock Upp 2 is entirely natural, given the amount of time co-stars spend working together. She rejected allegations that Shivangi was 'using' Harshad and said she never viewed their relationship from a romantic angle.
Why did Sunita Ahuja compare Bollywood heroes to their heroines?
Sunita used the comparison to illustrate that professional closeness between male and female co-stars is an industry norm. She noted that heroes often spend more time with their heroines than with their own wives, which she said naturally leads to bonding — and should not be misread as something inappropriate.
What is Lock Upp 2 and why did Shivangi-Harshad's friendship attract attention?
Lock Upp is a reality show produced by Balaji Telefilms. During Season 2, the visible emotional closeness between actors Shivangi Joshi and Harshad Chopda sparked viewer speculation about a romantic involvement. Both actors consistently described each other as good friends.
What is the current situation with Sunita Ahuja and Govinda's marriage?
Reports indicate that Sunita Ahuja's marriage to actor Govinda has been under strain, with both reportedly making pointed public remarks about each other. Sunita has not directly linked her comments about co-star bonding to her personal situation.
Did Sunita Ahuja say romantic scenes lead to affairs?
No. Sunita explicitly cautioned against that conclusion. She acknowledged that shooting romantic scenes can create comfort between actors, but said it is wrong to automatically label such closeness an affair, adding that personal lives should not be subject to public judgement.
