Lock Upp 2 winner Shreya Kalra: 'I was shocked' after Shivangi Joshi rumours
Synopsis
Shreya Kalra had already made peace with losing Lock Upp 2 — Google itself was showing Shivangi Joshi as the winner. The shock of actually winning, combined with her candid admission about fame-bias in reality TV, makes this one of the more honest post-victory interviews the format has produced.
Key Takeaways
Shreya Kalra won Lock Upp Season 2 , taking home a cash prize of ₹1 crore .
Pre-finale rumours, including Google search results , had indicated Shivangi Joshi as the likely winner; Kalra said she had accepted this outcome.
Shivangi Joshi finished as the first runner-up; other finalists included Ram Kapoor , Shilpa Shinde , and Yogesh Rawat .
Varun Yadav and Akanksha Chamola were eliminated before the finale; Chamola was voted out unanimously by the remaining contestants.
Host Riteish Deshmukh asked contestants to take a collective elimination decision ahead of the finale.
Shreya Kalra, the winner of Lock Upp Season 2, has revealed that she had mentally prepared herself to lose the captive reality show's finale after widespread rumours — including Google search results — pointed to Shivangi Joshi as the likely champion. The disclosure came during a media interaction following the show's conclusion on 10 August.
What Shreya Said About the Rumours
Kalra said she had not only heard the speculation but had also seen it reflected online. 'I heard about the rumours about Shivangi Joshi being the winner, even Google had reported the same. I had accepted it. But when I got to know that I'm the winner of the show, I was shocked,' she said.
She added that her mindset going into the finale was grounded in realism about how reality television works. 'I didn't feel that I would win the show because we have seen reality shows, and we know that a certain bias creeps in for the people who are famous while deciding the winner. The makers do it so that they could pitch it to bigger actors in the subsequent season,' she said.
How She Made Peace With Not Winning
Despite the uncertainty, Kalra said she had found a sense of closure before the result was announced. 'I was convinced that whatever I had, I gave to the show. Even if I hadn't won the show, I won in life. I had said the same thing in my speech — the friends I made along the way, the way fans supported me, I was happy in that moment,' she said.
This mindset, she indicated, made the actual victory feel all the more surreal when it was revealed.
The Final Standings and Eliminations
Shreya Kalra walked away with the Lock Upp 2 trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 crore. Shivangi Joshi finished as the first runner-up. The other finalists were Ram Kapoor, Shilpa Shinde, and Yogesh Rawat.
Ahead of the finale, Varun Yadav and Akanksha Chamola were eliminated from the competition. Chamola's eviction came after Yogesh, Shreya, and Varun collectively voted her out when host Riteish Deshmukh asked the remaining contestants to reach a unanimous decision.
What This Means for Lock Upp's Legacy
Kalra's win is notable given the pre-finale narrative that had firmly positioned Joshi — a more established television name — as the frontrunner. The outcome underscores the unpredictability of audience voting on captive reality formats. Notably, the show's host Riteish Deshmukh played a pivotal role in shaping the finale's final dynamics through the collective elimination twist. Whether the result boosts the franchise's credibility with audiences ahead of a potential third season remains to be seen.
Point of View
The gap between rumour and result needs to close.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Lock Upp Season 2?
Shreya Kalra won Lock Upp Season 2, taking home the trophy and a cash prize of ₹1 crore. Shivangi Joshi finished as the first runner-up.
Why was Shreya Kalra shocked by her Lock Upp 2 win?
Kalra had seen widespread rumours — including Google search results — suggesting Shivangi Joshi would win, and had mentally accepted that outcome. When the actual result was announced in her favour, she described herself as 'shocked'.
Who were the other finalists in Lock Upp 2?
The Lock Upp 2 finalists were Shreya Kalra, Shivangi Joshi, Ram Kapoor, Shilpa Shinde, and Yogesh Rawat. Varun Yadav and Akanksha Chamola were eliminated just before the finale.
How was Akanksha Chamola eliminated from Lock Upp 2?
Akanksha Chamola was eliminated after host Riteish Deshmukh asked the remaining contestants — Yogesh Rawat, Shreya Kalra, and Varun Yadav — to take a collective decision, and all three voted her out unanimously.
What did Shreya Kalra say about bias in reality shows?
Kalra said a 'certain bias creeps in for people who are famous' when deciding reality show winners, suggesting producers sometimes favour celebrities to attract bigger names for future seasons. She maintained, however, that she gave everything to the show regardless of the outcome.
