‘People Said I Had Become Laila’s Shadow’: Akanksha Choudhary Opens Up On Her Strongest Lock Upp 2 Bond, Secret Room Twist And Survival Politics

After her elimination from Lock Upp Season 2, Akanksha Choudhary has opened up about her unforgettable journey inside the controversial reality show, revealing how friendships, betrayals and survival strategies constantly clashed behind the prison walls. Calling the experience an emotional rollercoaster, Akanksha admitted that while the show fulfilled a long-held dream, living inside the house proved far more challenging than she had ever imagined.

Speaking about her time on the show, Akanksha said, "I think... well, this was my first reality show. It was a bit of a dream come true because I'd been watching shows like this since childhood and really, really wanted to do one. But I think when you watch from the outside, you don't realize just how difficult it will be. Because you had to spend a whole month in just those three or four rooms. I think that was the hardest part. But apart from that, the bonds I formed—the connections I shared with a few of the inmates—made it bearable. Although, when the survival tasks came up, those bonds would go out the window. Everyone would just lose their minds. So, I think it was a rollercoaster ride. There were fights, a lot of anger, and then deep friendships too. It was a mix of everything."

However, it was her friendship with fellow contestant Laila that became one of the biggest talking points of the season. Fans closely followed their evolving equation, and Akanksha admitted that the connection happened almost instantly after entering the house.

"The bond we saw between me and Laila was truly amazing. Just yesterday, an episode aired where I was fighting with her," she laughed before explaining, "When I first entered Lock Upp, Laila was actually the first person I spoke to, even before Yogesh. Laila gives off a very 'Gullu' vibe—you know, that Delhi boy energy. Jaipur and Delhi have a similar vibe, and I naturally connect better with people from Delhi. I noticed the same thing during Splitsvilla. The way Laila spoke and opened up, I knew we'd become good friends."

Akanksha also revealed that she intentionally distanced herself from Laila at one stage after hearing comments from fellow contestants. "Before the Secret Room phase, I had actually stepped back a little because people kept telling me, 'You look like his shadow.' I also felt he had become closer to Yogesh, so I thought I should create some distance. But after the Secret Room, our friendship became really close. Then Yogesh left, so we naturally became each other's priority."

Explaining the dynamics between Laila and Yogesh, Akanksha added, "Whenever Yogesh and Laila were together, it became their own little world. It wasn't just about bro-code for the show; their bond was genuinely strong. I remember when Laila kept that secret for Yogesh. She fought hard not to reveal it, but eventually she had to tell Shreya and Shilpa during an argument. After that, Yogesh became incredibly close to Laila. He felt, 'She did something huge for me—who does that?' From then on, he wanted to help her go as far as possible in the show. Obviously, in the end, everyone has to play against each other, but they tried to stay together for as long as they could."

Akanksha Choudhary's candid revelations offer a rare glimpse into the emotional and strategic battles inside Lock Upp Season 2. Her admission about being labelled "Laila's shadow," the changing loyalties after the Secret Room twist, and the powerful bond between Laila and Yogesh have once again ignited conversations among fans, proving that in Lock Upp, friendships are never as simple as they seem.