30 June,2026 03:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ram Kapoor (A still from Lock Upp)
The first episode of Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa witnessed a fiery confrontation between actor Ram Kapoor and social media influencer Shreya Kalra after she questioned him over the controversial remarks that recently landed him in trouble. The exchange unfolded during a task where contestants had to confront one another about incidents from their past, leading to one of the most intense arguments of the season.
Shreya brought up the backlash Ram faced during the promotional campaign for his web series Mistry, when he allegedly made a series of offensive jokes in front of journalists. Referring to the controversy, she directly asked the actor whether he believed such comments were appropriate. Riteish asked Ram to mention the statements, "If they are in my line of sight, how can I not look?', 'You are making me feel like I am getting gangraped by elephants today' and 'Your mother should have slept instead of conceiving you that night.'
Without holding back, Shreya questioned Ram's "gang-rape by elephants" remark, saying that jokes involving sexual violence should never be treated as humour. She argued that public figures have a responsibility to be mindful of their words, especially when speaking in public.
Ram defended himself, insisting that the remarks were made in jest and were never intended to offend anyone. He maintained that humour is often misunderstood when taken out of context and said he had no intention of hurting sentiments.
The discussion soon turned into a heated argument, with neither contestant willing to back down. As tensions escalated, the other inmates watched silently while some attempted to calm the situation.
The confrontation also caught jailer Farah Khan by surprise. Visibly stunned by the intensity of the exchange, she intervened and urged both contestants to maintain decorum while expressing their views. She reminded the housemates that disagreements were inevitable in the competition but should not spiral into personal attacks.
The controversy dates back to the promotions of Mistry, where Ram allegedly joked about kissing a male member of the marketing team, made an inappropriate comment involving his mother, and compared his experience to being "gang-raped by elephants." The remarks drew widespread criticism on social media and reportedly resulted in him being removed from the show's promotional activities, with co-star Mona Singh handling the remaining interviews alone.
Inside the Lock Upp house, the issue resurfaced as part of the reality show's format, which encourages contestants to confront each other over real-life controversies. While Ram continued to defend his actions, Shreya stood firm, saying that insensitive jokes should not be normalised, regardless of intent.
The episode has since sparked fresh debate online, with viewers divided over the confrontation. While some felt Shreya was justified in holding Ram accountable for his remarks, others believed the actor deserved an opportunity to explain his side. The dramatic face-off has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments of the season, adding another layer of conflict inside the Lock Upp house.
