The television industry was caught off guard when actress Akanksha Chamola announced her impending divorce from actor Gaurav Khanna during the grand premiere of Lock Upp Season 2. Adding to the shockwaves, Gaurav’s close friend and fellow actor Anuj Sachdeva has revealed that Gaurav himself had no idea his private life was about to be broadcast on national television.
Gaurav Khanna Was “Completely Unaware” of the Announcement
In an interview with industry insider Vicky Lalwani, Anuj Sachdeva expressed his surprise over the split and shared details of his subsequent conversation with Gaurav.
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Catching Gaurav Off-Guard: Anuj revealed that while he didn’t know the couple had been living separately for nine months, Gaurav was caught completely off-guard by the reality show confession. “Gaurav was completely unaware that Akanksha was going to go public about the current status of their marriage on Lock Upp,” Anuj stated.
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Handling the Split with Dignity: Praising his friend’s silence amidst the media storm, Anuj added, “Gaurav is not airing his dirty linen in public… Gaurav really loved her a lot and gave her all that she wanted.”
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Questioning the Motive: Addressing speculations regarding the reasons behind their separation, Anuj dismissed outside rumors but questioned the timing of the reveal: “So far, Akanksha had never gone public about this. I wonder if she’s doing it to increase the eyeballs on the show.”
The Lock Upp Season 2 Confession
Akanksha Chamola dropped the bombshell during the first episode of the reality show, hosted by Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh, when asked to share a personal secret.
“Me and Gaurav are getting a divorce. We have been living separately for the last one year, and it’s not been public. Things are not bad between me and Gaurav… We don’t think we are compatible as partners because we both see a very different future.” — Akanksha Chamola on Lock Upp Season 2
The Core Issue: Differing Views on Starting a Family
In the third episode of the show, Akanksha opened up further to co-contestants Shreya Kalra and Sufi Motiwala, revealing that their differing timelines and desires regarding parenthood—a topic Gaurav had previously touched upon during his stint on Bigg Boss 19—led to the permanent rift.
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Lack of Maternal Instinct: Akanksha candidly stated that she realized over time that she did not possess a maternal instinct. “Jab mujhe realise ho gaya ki main bani hi nahi hoon iss cheez ke liye, maine tabhi bol diya tha ki main nahi karne waali hoon (When I realized I wasn’t made for this, I told him I wouldn’t do it).”
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Gaurav’s Desire for Kids: She acknowledged that Gaurav’s desire to have children grew significantly over time. “He is not wrong on his part… I realized that isko bohot zyaada hai aur main nahi kar paa rahi hoon (he wants it badly and I am unable to provide that). For me, I don’t want to put him in that situation.”
A Look Back at Their Relationship
Akanksha and Gaurav tied the knot on November 24, 2016, in an elaborate three-day wedding celebration in Gaurav’s hometown of Kanpur. Throughout their nearly decade-long marriage, the couple had been widely regarded as one of the television industry’s most supportive pairs, frequently celebrating each other’s career milestones publicly.
