You won’t see Sunita Ahuja tiptoeing into the world of unscripted TV; she is making an entrance. The actor’s spouse has put pen to paper for Lock Upp Season 2 and is quick to say it was the draw of Netflix and Ektaa that made her come on board. You can watch the proceedings from June 27th, Sat-Wed at 8 PM.
It is a timely move. Sunita’s no-holds-barred opinions are already all over social media, and there has been no shortage of talk about her marriage in fan circles. Put her in front of a camera with the kind of reach Netflix has and you have yourself some must-see TV.
Why Sunita said yes: Netflix and Ektaa Kapoor
She doesn’t make a secret of what made up her mind. “I said yes to the show because of Netflix and Ektaa,” is how she puts it. She has an affinity for Ektaa and is a fan of the streaming service. Do the numbers and it’s a no-brainer: you get a big stage and a producer you can put your trust in.
There were other options on the table-Rise And Fall, The 50, Traitors, Alliance to name a few-but she went with Lock Upp. In her view, this is the team that will look after her. On a side note, she has it in for a film with Ektaa where she’ll be playing the mother to her son Yash for the first time.
So, what does Sunita have in store for us? Here is her take on it:
– I am who I am, with or without the cameras rolling
– I like my people to be as honest as I am
– I consider myself the most senior in the house
– I am in shape, body and mind, for whatever they put in front of me
Govinda’s reaction and Sunita’s boundaries
As for how her husband felt about it, Sunita says he was on edge. He was of the mind that someone in there might ruffle her feathers and put her in tears. He just wanted to be sure his wife would be treated right.
Her answer to that is plain: she is strong enough to stand her ground with anyone. But don’t expect her to let some outsider have a say in her family matters. “Govinda is very senior,” she says, and that is not for anyone to question.
All of this is coming off the back of some long-running stories about the pair. After the incident last year where the actor was hospitalised with a bullet wound to the leg, there was some divorce talk until they put an end to it by showing up together for Ganesh Chaturthi.
What she brings to the jail
Lock Upp is no place for the soft of heart. With its Sach Ya Sazaa format, you can be penalised for not telling the whole story. Sunita describes herself as being hard-nosed about the truth and is sure she will get along with those who do the same. Being under a microscope 24/7 is not something she is put off by.
She is up for the tasks and can read a room, though she will be the first to tell you luck is part of it. From the self-styled veteran, you can expect a straight answer. Some may not be for her, but they won’t be left wanting for entertainment.
But for all the bluster, she is a family woman and knows what she is leaving at home. When Sunita talks about what she’s leaving at the door, she’ll tell you it’s her kids, her mother, her dogs, her staff and even her temple. It’s a kind of comfort she has to put aside for the high drama that will likely be the story of her time on the show.
But there’s more to it than that, and if you’ve been following her, you know it. She’s put some of her life out there on YouTube – from a day in the life with the family to some of her more spiritual side. One minute she is unvarnished and pious, the next she is all over the place. It’s the sort of duality a good show is made of.
Line-up and launch details
Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh are at the helm for Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa on Netflix, and with them, the show has an air of importance from the get-go. The premise is a no-nonsense, prison-style set up where being open is your only way to be safe.
They’ve been rolling out the contestants to keep you guessing. You have Pamela Serena, who we met on Desi Bling and has the Ms UAE World 2022 and Ms Universe Dubai 2021 titles to her name. Then there’s Shivangi Joshi, and some of the younger crowd like Yogesh Rawat and Akanksha Chaudhary from Splitsvilla X6.
And then there’s Ram Kapoor, the first to be put in front of us. Put it all together and you have a mix of TV veterans, OTT names and a few wildcards. The kind of cast that is sure to rub off.
Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa is on Netflix starting June 27th. They’re running it five nights a week, Sat-Wed at 8 PM, to make sure the buzz doesn’t die down between episodes. What happens on a Saturday will be put to the test by Wednesday.
Why this season could pop
For those of us who like a little spark in our reality TV, you can put this one in the diary. With the star power of the hosts and the full force of Netflix behind it, Sunita’s brand of truth-telling is going to be hard to ignore.
– You get the kind of national talk that only Netflix can put in motion
– Farah and Riteish bring the energy and experience
– Sunita doesn’t back down when things get real
– The schedule is designed to make you a regular
The person behind the persona
Sunita and Govinda have been married since ’87 and have two, Tina and Yashvardan. It’s not just a fact; it’s part of how she makes sense of things like loyalty and where to draw a line. She’s been open about some of the shifts in her life, from dealing with menopause to leaning on her family.
In vlogs and the like, she’s said she’s put up with enough. "I have my own identity now, I am strong,” she says, though 40 years with him will always be something. “If he changes and does what I think is right, I can let it go.”
She was on Maa Hai Na with Tina before this, but had to bow out. This feels like a different move. She wants to put forward who Sunita Ahuja is, without any filters.
What to expect next
You can bet the first week will put people to the test. Sunita has made it clear she’ll be on good terms with the ones who are straight with her, because she is. So watch to see who she puts in that camp.
The makers have done a good job of ratcheting up the interest with every new face they show. Now they have a focal point. Sunita is in there to have a good time and put in the work. For us, that means there will be some fireworks.
June 27th and the doors to the cells are open. The rules don’t get much simpler: come clean or pay for it. And with Sunita in the room, you can be sure the truth won’t be quiet.
