Television actor Akanksha Chamola has continued to share deeply personal details about her life on Lock Upp 2. After revealing that she and husband Gaurav Khanna are in the process of ending their marriage after nearly a decade together, and previously speaking about identifying as bisexual before getting married, the actor has now said that she currently identifies as asexual. Reflecting on how the divorce has influenced her outlook on intimacy, Akanksha said she has no interest in a physical relationship with either men or women at this point in her life.
During the latest episode of the reality show, Akanksha was seen interacting with fellow contestant Varun Yadav inside the Lock Upp cell. Their discussion touched upon relationships, marriage and life after emotional setbacks.
When Varun asked whether she saw herself marrying again in the future, Akanksha dismissed the possibility, saying, “Mere ko darr baith gaya hain (A deep fear has set in).”
The conversation then shifted to her sexuality, with Varun asking how she viewed it today. Akanksha responded that she believes a person's sexuality can change with different phases of life and emotional experiences.
“Sexuality keeps changing. Aap ke phases ke upar hota hain ki… mera abhi divorce ho raha hain mujhe abhi kisi se sex nahi chahiye. Ladkiyo ke saath bhi nahi chahiye, admiyo ke saath bhi nahi chahiye. Mera alag phase chal raha hain isey kehte hain asexual (It depends upon your life phase. I am now going through a divorce and I don’t want sex now, neither from men nor from women. This is called asexuality).”
In an earlier conversation with co-contestant Pamela, Akanksha had also made it clear that she has no plans to remarry.
“I got married so young; I was 24 when I married.”
When Pamela remarked that she was still young and could find a partner again, Akanksha replied, “I don’t want to get married again. I think I am done. But for the first time in my life, main akeli rehne waali hoon. Like, not under my parents’ roof or my husband’s roof. I am going to have my own house. I am going to ride solo for life now.”
In previous episodes, the actor also discussed the reasons behind the breakdown of her marriage, explaining that she never developed the desire to become a mother and eventually accepted that parenthood was not meant for her.
“Jab hum shaadi mein the, mera maternal instinct kabhi nahi tha (When we were married, I never had a maternal instinct). But I was open to discovering it, and it was never shut down. Gradually, however, I realised that I am not meant for it, and he was okay with that. But I guess, in time, that shifted.”
Akanksha had also spoken candidly about her sexuality, revealing that she identified as bisexual before marrying Gaurav.
“I like women. I admire them and I feel attracted to them. I think they are my safe space. Growing up, I felt that it’s a very male-dominated world, so you naturally gravitate towards your mother and sisters. Somewhere, the comfort you get from them stays with you. I love that feminine energy, I love that comfort, and I thrive in it. We live in a society where people say women can’t be friends because there’s always jealousy or competition. I never felt that way. For me, all women are beautiful. It’s just a label that society has given; for me, it’s pure love.”
Akanksha Chamola, who has appeared in television shows including Santoshi Maa, Yeh Hai Aashiqui and Crime Patrol, married actor Gaurav Khanna on November 24, 2016. The two reportedly first met during an audition, dated for a period and later tied the knot in a lavish three-day wedding ceremony held in Gaurav's hometown of Kanpur.
At the premiere of Lock Upp 2, Akanksha disclosed that she and Gaurav are in the midst of divorce proceedings, bringing their nearly 10-year marriage to an end. Since making that announcement, she has continued to openly discuss her evolving perspectives on marriage, motherhood and sexuality on the show.
