Kangana Ranaut returns to Lock Upp 2 as 'Janta Ki Awaaz' this weekend
Synopsis
Kangana Ranaut is back in the Lock Upp universe — but not as host. Returning as 'Janta Ki Awaaz' for the show's first termination round, she joins a revamped jury format that producer Ektaa Kapoor says deliberately breaks from everything the original season stood for. Meanwhile, contestant Akanksha Chamola's on-camera divorce revelation has already made Lock Upp 2 unmissable viewing.
Key Takeaways
Kangana Ranaut will appear on Lock Upp 2 this weekend as the 'Janta Ki Awaaz' , joining jury members Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh .
Kangana hosted Lock Upp season 1 but was not retained as host for the new season due to a complete format overhaul.
Producer Ektaa Kapoor confirmed the show's format, jailer, and host were all changed to deliver a fresh presentation.
Contestant Akanksha Chamola revealed on the show that she and actor Gaurav Khanna are divorcing after living separately for over a year .
Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa streams on Netflix at 8 PM daily.
Actress Kangana Ranaut is set to make a guest appearance on Lock Upp 2 this weekend, stepping into the show as the 'Janta Ki Awaaz' — joining jury members Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh for the reality show's very first termination round. Kangana, who hosted the original season of Lock Upp, returns in a different capacity this time around.
Kangana on Owning the Truth
Reflecting on her connection with the show, Kangana said, 'This show has always been about owning your truth, no matter how uncomfortable it is.' She added, 'Joining Farah and Riteish as the jury or the Janta Ki Awaaz this weekend for Lock Upp: Sach ya Sazaa's very first termination, all I can say is every choice has a price!'
Why Kangana Did Not Return as Host
Producer Ektaa Kapoor addressed the change in hosting duties during the launch of season two. 'The entire format of the show, the whole vision changed and the demographic, the kind of jailer-judge format we had. Nothing of the original show has been kept. Neither the jailer nor the host, so keeping anything of the old would not bring the fresh presentation of the branding. So I am sure Kangana would have understood,' Kapoor explained. The revamped format signals a deliberate creative reset, distancing the new season from its predecessor while retaining audience familiarity through familiar faces in new roles.
Contestant Revelation Grabs Headlines
Beyond the celebrity guest buzz, Lock Upp 2 has already generated off-screen drama. Akanksha Chamola, wife of television actor Gaurav Khanna, announced inside the house that the couple is heading for a divorce. 'Gaurav Khanna and I are getting divorced. We have been living separately for the past one year. People don't know about this yet. This is a decision we have both taken. We have been talking about it for the past one year,' she revealed. The disclosure marks one of the more candid personal admissions seen on Indian reality television this season.
Where to Watch
Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa streams on Netflix daily at 8 PM. With Kangana's appearance timed to the first elimination weekend, viewership interest is expected to spike as audiences tune in to see how the 'Janta Ki Awaaz' dynamic plays out alongside the new jury format.
Point of View
Framing it as a creative evolution rather than a snub. Ektaa Kapoor's explanation that 'nothing of the original show has been kept' is a bold creative statement, but it also raises the question of whether the new format can hold audience loyalty without the continuity that built the first season's identity. The Akanksha Chamola divorce disclosure, meanwhile, underlines the show's core proposition: manufactured environments extract real confessions. That tension between performance and authenticity is what keeps Lock Upp relevant in an increasingly crowded reality TV landscape on Indian streaming.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kangana Ranaut not hosting Lock Upp 2?
Producer Ektaa Kapoor explained that the entire format of Lock Upp 2 was overhauled, including the host and jailer roles, to present a fresh brand identity. Kangana, who hosted season one, was not retained as part of this deliberate creative reset.
What is Kangana Ranaut's role in Lock Upp 2?
Kangana Ranaut is appearing as the 'Janta Ki Awaaz' — a guest jury role — for the show's first termination weekend, joining permanent jury members Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh.
Who are the jury members on Lock Upp 2?
Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh serve as the jury on Lock Upp 2. Kangana Ranaut is joining them as a special guest, the 'Janta Ki Awaaz', for the first elimination round.
What did Akanksha Chamola reveal on Lock Upp 2?
Akanksha Chamola, wife of television actor Gaurav Khanna, revealed inside the Lock Upp 2 house that the two are getting divorced and have been living separately for over a year. She said the decision was mutual and had been discussed for the past year.
Where can viewers watch Lock Upp 2?
Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa streams on Netflix at 8 PM daily.
