Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Harshad Chopda’s Lock Upp journey ended much before fans had hoped, but what has stayed with viewers is his shocking decision to eliminate himself to save his close friend, Shivangi Joshi. While many called it selfless, others couldn’t understand why one of television’s biggest stars would walk away from the trophy, with many even convinced it confirmed rumours of their relationship.
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In an exclusive chat with India Today, Harshad addressed the backlash and apologised to fans for disappointing them. “I understand why they are upset, and I am sorry. They were expecting me to play and win. But for me, this show was about being myself. These are two different thought processes. This was my inexperience. I never thought I would do a reality show. I had not even seen these shows much. So because of that inexperience, the expectations couldn’t be met,” he said.
Many believed Harshad had finally started putting himself first after the lunch task. But just when fans thought his game had begun, he sacrificed himself for Shivangi. Defending his decision, he said he believes “a friend in need is a friend indeed” and simply followed his heart.
Even though almost everyone inside the house warned him he would regret the decision, Harshad insists he never did. “No, I didn’t regret it, even for a moment. Now that I am meeting people, I realise they had certain expectations from me. But my gameplay this time, unluckily, was to be myself. Next time, if I ever do another reality show, then the idea will be to go and win. That idea was missing this time because it never came to my mind.”
His elimination also led to speculation that the move was scripted to push Shivangi ahead. The Bade Achhe Lagte Hain star, however, dismissed the claims. “If anybody is wondering if it was fixed, no, it wasn’t. Everything was very organic. We did whatever we felt like whenever we felt like. Also, we stayed there for 24 hours and you all saw just one hour. There is a difference between what we lived and what you have seen. That difference can be as big as the earth and sky. So give us that little benefit of doubt.”
While his bond with Shivangi Joshi became one of the biggest talking points of the season, Harshad says nothing has changed between them: “I am still confident about our friendship. We are still friends, and the show has not impacted us in any negative way. In fact, our friendship has gotten thicker. We were good friends, but not this thick. Thirty-five days together in that kind of environment, in confinement, I don’t think I will have such a friendship with anyone again.”
And as we directly asked Harshad if he was in love with Shivangi, given everything viewers saw on screen, he blushed before saying, “No, no she is my friend.”
He also laughed off the viral handkerchief moment that many fans saw as romantic. “I always carry a handkerchief. If someone was crying or had dropped coffee on themselves, I would do that for them too. People who carry handkerchiefs are different people, and they do it for a reason,” he added.
When asked if coming out of the house changed the way he looked at people he had trusted inside, especially after some equations shifted during the game, Harshad said he wasn’t carrying any bitterness. “What I realised is that everybody on that show was nice. Everybody reacted in different ways. They can’t be judged on those things. I think they were just playing. They were under stress. I have no complaints with anyone.”
Interestingly, despite saying he has no issues with his fellow contestants, Harshad had earlier mentioned on Tejasswi’s podcast that he didn’t want to meet anyone after the show. Explaining what he meant, the actor said it had more to do with his own personality than anyone else’s. “That is knowing myself and the way I am. I live a little in my own world. I understand people are very busy. Not everybody has the time to be there for another person.”
The Tere Liye actor also admitted opening up on national television wasn’t easy. A series of psychological questionnaires made him revisit memories he had almost forgotten.
“When I was asked the first time, I didn’t have anything in my mind. Our life is already so public. Then there were around 600 questions from psychiatrists that I had to fill. While answering them, some questions triggered memories. I realised I had even forgotten those things. That’s when I searched within myself and spoke about them,” he said, adding that he wasn’t prepared for those moments to air so early in the show,” he explained.
Continuing further, he said, “When those moments came, I was shocked. I thought it would happen much later. Even people at home didn’t know some of those things. I know I appear very emotional, and I don’t like that fact about myself. That’s why I don’t stay in the public eye too much. I don’t interact with people when I am not in a good state of mind.”
Despite everything, Harshad says Lock Upp has changed him for the better. “I have gained confidence. Earlier, I used to think I am not made for reality shows. Now, even if it’s a lie, I have gained confidence. And the next time I take something like this, I will go with the idea of winning,” he concluded.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
