Shivangi Joshi joining on Lock Upp 2
Shivangi Joshi says Lock Upp 2 will test her independence
- Shivangi Joshi joins Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa and says she’s going “with a clean slate,” unable to fully prepare for the format.
- She wants to show a stronger side beyond the sweet, docile characters she’s known for.
- Cited Hina Khan’s Bigg Boss run as an example of how TV personas can surprise audiences; she accepts some viewers may not relate.
- Family advice was her main preparation; she spoke to friends but leaned on family for tips.
- Being alone and handling tasks without protective support is her biggest anticipated challenge; she has never travelled alone.
- Career highlights: early cameo in Parvarrish, debut in Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi (2013), breakout as Naira in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2016), roles in Balika Vadhu 2 and Bade Acche Lagte Hai 4 (2025).
- Rumoured past relationship with Kushal Tandon surfaced in 2025 amid social‑media posts and speculation.
Shivangi Joshi is stepping out of familiar territory and into a world designed to test limits: the confined, high‑pressure reality of Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa. For an actress who has long guarded her private life and built a career playing empathetic, household characters, the move feels significant — and a little scary. In a recent conversation with SCREEN, Shivangi spoke candidly about why she took the plunge, the personal challenges she expects to face, and what viewers might discover beyond the on‑screen personas they already know.
“Honestly, I don’t think you can prepare yourself for a show like this,” she said, describing the captive reality format where contestants live in isolation and tackle unpredictable tasks. “I am going with a clean slate.” That openness is striking from someone who has carefully curated a professional image for years. To many fans, Shivangi is synonymous with the sweet, steady heroines she’s played — Naira from Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai being the most prominent example. But she insists there’s more to her than that single thread.
Her comments recall earlier television crossovers where familiar TV faces exposed unexpected facets of themselves. Shivangi pointed to Hina Khan’s stint on Bigg Boss 11 as an instructive precedent: a beloved soap‑opera star who surprised and divided audiences with a braver, more assertive real‑life persona. She acknowledged that not everyone will connect with whatever version of herself appears on Lock Upp, but she accepted that risk: “There also may be some people who might not agree with my actions or behavior, but there will also be a section of people who will relate.”
Beyond managing public reactions, the practical reality of being alone inside a confined environment looms large. Shivangi — who has spent much of her career within tightly managed production bubbles and protective support systems — described the prospect of independence as daunting. and handle things myself,” she admitted. The vulnerability is palpable. For someone used to routines and familiar teams, the show’s isolation may force personal growth as much as it tests competitive instincts. “You might get to see a Shivangi 2.0 on the show,” she teased, hinting that viewers could witness a recalibrated confidence.
Preparation, she said, came mostly through conversations with family and a few close friends who had experienced similar reality formats. Family advice, she added, mattered most. That prioritisation — turning inward for support rather than public rehearsals — reinforces the private streak that fans have long associated with her.
Shivangi’s television journey helps explain why the move matters. She began with a cameo in Parvarrish and gradually built her resume with shows such as Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi, Beintehaa and Begusarai. Her breakthrough arrived in 2016, when she became a household name as Naira in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. Subsequent roles, including Balika Vadhu 2 and her last TV appearance in Bade Acche Lagte Hai 4 (2025), reinforced her range and appeal. Her popularity gives her the latitude to take risks now — but it also sharpens scrutiny.
Tabloid whispers have shadowed parts of her personal life. Last year she was linked in media speculation to Kushal Tandon, prompted by social‑media posts he later deleted. Shivangi herself once posted a warm birthday message to Kushal in March 2025, suggesting cordial ties even amid later rumours. Still, she has maintained a mostly guarded public persona, and Lock Upp represents perhaps the most conspicuous step she’s taken toward baring more of herself to viewers.
For audiences, the draw is twofold: the immediate drama of tasks and alliances inside the Lock Upp house, and the promise of seeing how a beloved TV star operates when stripped of scripts, retakes and PR buffers. Will Shivangi’s “stronger side” resonate? Will the show broaden how fans understand her, or will it sharpen divides between public expectation and private reality? Either way, the choice to enter the captive reality space feels intentional — an actor testing her own edges and inviting viewers to watch the process.