30 July,2026 07:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A still from Lock Upp (Picture via X)
Vikas Gupta's brief but impactful stint on Lock Upp has become one of the most talked-about moments of the season, thanks to his explosive confrontation with longtime rival Shilpa Shinde. After his exit from the reality show, the producer-creative director has finally opened up about his experience, insisting that he entered the house with no intention of pulling anyone down.
Looking back at his journey, Vikas compared his time inside the Lock Upp house to enjoying a colourful "baraf ka gola" on a beach, saying every moment brought a different flavour and emotion. "My experience inside Lock Upp was like enjoying a colourful 'baraf ka gola' by the beach. Every moment had a different flavour," he shared, adding that the unpredictable environment made the experience memorable.
Despite his heated exchange with Shilpa, Vikas clarified that he never entered the show with the agenda of targeting or humiliating anyone as he spoke to India Forums about his brief visit in Lock Upp. "I wasn't there to pull anyone down. I was there to have conversations and share my perspective," he said. According to him, reality shows should be about expressing opinions without resorting to personal attacks.
The confrontation stemmed from Shilpa's remarks about actress Shivangi Joshi and comments on Ram Kapoor's appearance. Vikas strongly objected, calling such discussions unnecessary and inappropriate. During the episode, he accused Shilpa of crossing personal boundaries and questioned why she was discussing the private lives of people who were not even present in the house. He also condemned body shaming, stressing that personal remarks have no place in the game.
Vikas also addressed Shreya Kalra during the episode, expressing disappointment over her support for Shilpa during the controversy. He felt contestants should avoid encouraging conversations that amount to character assassination and instead focus on the competition.
Interestingly, even after their fiery face-off, Vikas had words of appreciation for Shilpa's game. He admitted that she remains a strong player and even predicted that she could make it to the finale. His comments suggested that while he disagrees with some of her actions, he still respects her ability to survive and perform in a high-pressure reality show. Vikas was heavily trolled for his
Apart from the drama, Vikas said the show also gave him an opportunity to reconnect with people from different phases of his life. He revealed that meeting Ram Kapoor, whom he has known since he was 17, was one of the highlights of his visit.
As Lock Upp inches closer to its finale, Vikas' explosive appearance has added another memorable chapter to his long-running rivalry with Shilpa, while reigniting conversations about personal boundaries and accountability on reality television.
