15 July,2026 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Dheeraj and Vinny Dhoopar (Picture via Instagram)
Actor Dheeraj Dhoopar's stint on Lock Upp has gradually gained momentum, with the actor slowly revealing different facets of his personality inside the jail. In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, his wife, Vinny Dhoopar, spoke about why he finally agreed to do a reality show, his gameplay, and the controversies unfolding inside the house.
Revealing why Dheeraj took up Lock Upp after turning down several reality offers over the years, Vinny said, "For many years, he has been offered shows, reality shows, captive reality shows. And he is a very private person."
She explained that the show's format made all the difference. "The other reality shows, especially the captive ones, are usually like three months or four months. But this time around, Lock Upp was only 40 days. It was Balaji Telefilms, Ektaa Kapoor, and Netflix's first reality show. It all felt ideal because reality is picking up; it is the future of content."
Calling the opportunity a perfect fit, she added, "It wasn't too many months... it was five or six weeks at max. It was Balaji, Balaji's home, Dheeraj loves Ekta, and of course, it was Netflix. So it all just seemed right just enough thrill that we could give it a try."
Vinny believes Dheeraj has always been suited for the reality genre. "We always felt he was a very good fit for reality shows because he is actually a strong-headed person. He puts his point, he does what he does. There are many layers to him."
Speaking about his gameplay, she stressed that viewers are seeing the real Dheeraj. "First and foremost, Dheeraj is being his most authentic, his most real self. Just because it is a reality show and something sells on a reality show is not the reason why he would do something that he doesn't feel right about."
She described him as someone who prefers observing before reacting. "When Dheeraj walks into a room, he will not be the first one to judge quickly. He will look, he will watch, he will observe. When he feels his opinion matters the most is when he is going to put it out."
Vinny also feels his journey is only getting stronger. "Some people start with a hundred, while some grow with the show. I feel Dheeraj belongs to the latter category. Slowly we are seeing layers of him unfold, and I feel the best is yet to come."
Addressing the ongoing fights involving contestants and the chatter outside the house, Vinny refused to dwell on the drama. "I left it a long time ago. I think Shreya's boyfriend has a lot of battles to pick with a lot many people enough content for everybody outside and inside."
She concluded by saying that reality shows naturally bring out different strategies. "It's a game. People react because they are under pressure. Everyone has their own thought process, everyone has their own strategy. Reality show artists are very clear they know what sells, and they do exactly that."
