Akanksha Chaudhary defends Ram Kapoor in Lock Upp kissing row
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Akanksha Chaudhary has stepped forward to defend Ram Kapoor amid an ongoing controversy over his practice of greeting female contestants on the reality show Lock Upp with kisses on the forehead and cheeks. Chaudhary, who was recently evicted from the show, said she never witnessed Kapoor make anyone uncomfortable during her time inside the house.
What Akanksha Said in His Defence
Speaking to reporters after her eviction, Chaudhary was categorical in her support. 'Obviously, I agree that this happens a lot in the industry and outside. I am not saying anything for that. But because I was at home and I used to talk to Ram sir daily. And even in the secret room, I heard everything that Shreya used to say about Ram sir. And it was not like that at all. Ram sir did not make anyone uncomfortable,' she said.
Chaudhary recalled a specific exchange inside the house in which contestant Shreya Kalra had remarked in front of fellow housemate Shilpa Shinde that Ram Kapoor kissed her more than her own father. According to Chaudhary, Shinde immediately pushed back, and Kalra herself clarified she did not mean it in an inappropriate sense.
The Lie Detector Flashpoint
'When I was in the secret room, I think Shreya had said in front of Shilpa Shinde that Ram sir kisses me more than my father. But then Shilpa ji said, 'No, no, he doesn't do it that way,'' Chaudhary recounted.
She added that Kalra had clarified her own remark during a casual conversation near the kitchen counter: 'Yes, obviously, I am not saying it that way. I don't mean it that way. I am just saying that he does it again and again.' Chaudhary described Kalra as 'very chill' about the matter at that point.
According to Chaudhary, the situation only escalated after the issue was surfaced during a lie detector task — one that she claims was covertly managed by influencer Apoorva Makhija. 'But just then it came in the lie detector. And that was also fake. Later I found out that Apoorva was doing it. So seeing that, Shreya changed her stance and said 'Yes, I told her yesterday, 'Don't touch me like this,'' she alleged.
How the Controversy Began
The controversy around Ram Kapoor erupted after clips from Lock Upp showing him greeting female contestants with kisses on the forehead and cheeks circulated widely on social media. Many viewers alleged that the gestures appeared to make some contestants visibly uncomfortable, prompting a wave of criticism online.
Kapoor has not yet issued a public statement in response to the social media backlash. The matter has sparked a broader conversation about personal boundaries and consent on reality television.
What Happens Next
With Lock Upp still ongoing, the controversy is likely to remain in the spotlight as more contestants and viewers weigh in. Whether the show's producers or Kapoor himself address the criticism formally remains to be seen.