Akanksha Chamola on Ram Kapoor: 'He used to manipulate everyone'
Synopsis
Freshly evicted from Lock Upp, Akanksha Chamola has gone on record alleging that Ram Kapoor ran a calculated manipulation game inside the show — one that even made her doubt her own gameplay. Her claim flips the narrative: she insists she was the strongest player, not the weakest.
Key Takeaways
Akanksha Chamola was evicted from reality show Lock Upp and spoke to the media on Wednesday in Mumbai .
She alleged that Ram Kapoor 'used to manipulate everyone a lot' and caused her to doubt her own game play.
Chamola maintained that, having now watched the show from outside, she believes she was 'the strongest player.' She cited extreme physical and emotional exhaustion — including food deprivation and physical altercations — as reasons her confidence faltered inside the show.
She defended her positive and sensitive personality, arguing it is a strength, not a weakness, in reality television.
Television actress Akanksha Chamola has claimed that fellow contestant and TV star Ram Kapoor was highly manipulative inside the reality show Lock Upp, so much so that she began doubting her own instincts and game play. Chamola made these remarks on Wednesday in Mumbai, shortly after being evicted from the show.
What Chamola Said About Ram Kapoor
Responding to questions about whether she agreed with fellow contestants who labelled her the weakest player in the game, Chamola pushed back firmly. 'I don't agree at all. I didn't agree inside as well,' she said. She went on to allege that Kapoor had a deliberate strategy of getting into people's heads: 'Ram Kapoor sir used to manipulate everyone a lot. He used to say that he used to get filtered in everyone's mind. It used to happen in my own mind as well. Because, at one point, I had also accepted that I don't have any game play.'
Now that she has watched the episodes from the outside, Chamola says her perspective has shifted entirely. 'I was the strongest player. And, I have said that I was the competition,' she stated.
Mental and Physical Exhaustion Inside Lock Upp
Chamola acknowledged that she mentally gave up at certain points during her stint on the show, attributing it to extreme physical and emotional strain. 'It was not easy to stay in the lock-up. You were physically exhausted. I had eaten 4-5 back kicks of Shinde that day. We were not getting food. So, I was emotionally and mentally weak,' she recalled. She added that in comparison to other contestants, her confidence levels had dipped — though she maintained that this did not make her the weakest player overall.
Positivity as Strength, Not Weakness
Chamola also addressed the recurring criticism that her positive and sensitive personality was a liability in the competitive reality format. 'Being positive or being kind, being sensitive, being sweet — that is weakness. My point was that it is not a weakness,' she said, clarifying that she did not subscribe to that view. She pointed out that her longevity in the game itself was evidence: 'If they didn't [have a role], I would have come out in the first week.'
On the question of authenticity, Chamola said the show's premise demanded exactly that. 'This show was about owning your truth. You wanted to show your real personality. And, I am the way I am,' she added.
What This Reveals About Lock Upp's Dynamics
Lock Upp, the controversial reality show hosted by Kangana Ranaut, has drawn attention for its high-pressure environment that reportedly pushes contestants to psychological limits. Chamola's account adds to a pattern of contestants alleging strategic manipulation by stronger players inside the show. Her eviction and subsequent candid remarks are likely to reignite debate about the show's gameplay dynamics and the treatment of contestants who lead with empathy rather than aggression.
Point of View
A credible and senior TV name, carries more weight than the usual exit soundbite. What is worth watching is whether other evicted contestants corroborate the manipulation claim, which would shift the story from personal grievance to a structural indictment of how Lock Upp's stronger players operate. The show's format, which rewards psychological dominance over straightforward competition, arguably incentivises exactly the behaviour Chamola describes.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Akanksha Chamola say about Ram Kapoor after her Lock Upp eviction?
Chamola alleged that Ram Kapoor deliberately manipulated fellow contestants, including herself, into doubting their own gameplay. She said his influence caused her to momentarily accept that she had no game plan, a view she has since rejected.
Does Akanksha Chamola agree she was the weakest player in Lock Upp?
No. Chamola explicitly rejected that characterisation, stating that after watching the show from outside, she believes she was in fact the strongest player and 'the competition.'
Why did Akanksha Chamola say she gave up mentally inside Lock Upp?
She attributed her mental low points to extreme physical exhaustion, food deprivation, and physical altercations inside the show. She said these conditions left her emotionally and mentally weak at certain stages, lowering her confidence relative to other contestants.
What is Lock Upp and who hosts it?
Lock Upp is a controversial Indian reality show hosted by Kangana Ranaut. It places contestants in a high-pressure, prison-themed environment designed to test their psychological limits and push them to reveal their true personalities.
Did Akanksha Chamola defend her positive personality on the show?
Yes. Chamola argued that being kind, sensitive, and positive is not a weakness, contrary to what some contestants and viewers suggested. She cited her extended stay in the competition as evidence that positivity can be a viable strategy in reality television.
