Apoorva Makhija reveals suicidal thoughts during India's Got Latent row
Synopsis
Apoorva Makhija's on-camera confession on Lock Upp Season 2 — that she would have ended her life without Sufi Motiwala's support during the India's Got Latent storm — is a stark reminder of the mental health toll that viral controversies exact on young creators, and how rarely that cost is spoken about openly.
Key Takeaways
Apoorva Makhija revealed on Lock Upp Season 2 that she experienced suicidal thoughts during the India's Got Latent controversy.
She credited Sufi Motiwala as the sole personal support who helped her through the crisis.
Motiwala described the year they spent as close friends as 'my most favourite year of my life.' The controversy stemmed from allegedly offensive remarks on Samay Raina 's YouTube show, which led to police complaints and legal scrutiny against Makhija and other team members.
Both creators apologised to each other on camera, marking a public reconciliation.
Content creator Apoorva Makhija broke down emotionally on Lock Upp Season 2 while recounting the personal toll of the India's Got Latent controversy, revealing she had experienced suicidal thoughts during the crisis and crediting fellow creator Sufi Motiwala as the person who helped her survive it. The candid exchange, which aired on 24 July, offered a rare and raw look at the mental health cost of viral public backlash.
What Apoorva Said on Lock Upp
During a reunion conversation with Motiwala inside the reality show, Makhija was visibly overwhelmed. 'I have really missed you. Don't do this again, I am starting to cry,' she said, before adding: 'I would've killed myself if, at the time of the Latent fiasco, I didn't have Sufi.'
Motiwala immediately responded, 'Don't say that.' Makhija went on to describe how isolated she felt at the time. 'You were the only person with me. I wasn't dating anyone. Personally, in my life, as a friend,' she said, underscoring that his support was not professional but deeply personal.
Sufi Motiwala's Response and Their Reconciliation
Motiwala, reflecting on the same period, described it as among the most meaningful of his life. 'That one year was my most favourite year of my life when we were friends. I finally felt like I had a social circle in Bombay. I felt like there was someone I could go to whenever I wanted. And I genuinely missed you a lot,' he said.
The exchange ended with both offering apologies. Makhija told him: 'I am also really sorry. I know those little, little things can hurt a lot. And I am sorry for not creating that safe space for you when you needed it the most.'
Background: The India's Got Latent Controversy
The fallout Makhija referenced stems from her appearance on India's Got Latent, the YouTube comedy show hosted by influencer Samay Raina. The show drew widespread backlash over allegedly offensive remarks made during an episode, triggering multiple police complaints and legal scrutiny against Makhija and other members of the show's team.
Makhija faced intense trolling across social media platforms in the aftermath, a period she has now publicly described as one that pushed her to the edge. This is one of the first times she has spoken so openly about the mental health impact of that episode.
Mental Health in the Age of Viral Controversy
Makhija's disclosure arrives at a moment when conversations around creator mental health are gaining traction in India. The speed and scale of social media pile-ons — particularly targeting young women creators — have drawn growing concern from mental health professionals. Notably, this is not the first time a public figure has cited online harassment as a trigger for suicidal ideation, though such admissions remain rare in India's influencer ecosystem.
As Makhija continues her journey on Lock Upp Season 2, her candid account is likely to reignite debate around accountability, online harassment, and the duty-of-care owed to creators caught in viral controversies.
Point of View
Offensive content, accountability. The human cost to those at the centre was largely ignored. That a young woman creator felt suicidal while facing coordinated trolling and legal pressure should prompt harder questions about platform responsibility and the media's role in amplifying outrage. Reconciliation moments on reality TV can feel staged, but Makhija's specificity — 'you were the only person with me' — carries the weight of something unscripted.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Apoorva Makhija reveal on Lock Upp Season 2?
Apoorva Makhija revealed that she experienced suicidal thoughts during the India's Got Latent controversy and that Sufi Motiwala's support was the reason she got through it. She said she 'would've killed herself' had he not been by her side during that period.
What was the India's Got Latent controversy?
India's Got Latent is a YouTube comedy show hosted by influencer Samay Raina. Apoorva Makhija faced severe backlash over allegedly offensive remarks made during an episode, which led to multiple police complaints and legal scrutiny against her and other team members.
Who is Sufi Motiwala and what role did he play?
Sufi Motiwala is a fellow content creator who was Makhija's closest friend during the controversy. She credited him as the only person who stood by her personally during the crisis, and the two reconciled on Lock Upp Season 2 with mutual apologies.
Why does Apoorva Makhija's confession matter?
It is one of the most direct public admissions by an Indian content creator of suicidal ideation linked to online harassment and viral controversy. It highlights the mental health toll of social media pile-ons on young creators, a conversation that remains underrepresented in Indian media.
What happened between Apoorva Makhija and Sufi Motiwala after the controversy?
The two had drifted apart after the controversy, but reunited on Lock Upp Season 2. Both apologised to each other on camera, with Makhija expressing regret for not providing Motiwala a 'safe space' when he needed it.
