Nisha Rawal on Lock Upp: My son will see only parts of the show

Nisha Rawal

Lock Upp is probably one show that has the potential to give Salman Khan's Bigg Boss a run for its money. Or at least, that's what host Kangana Ranaut would like to believe. The MXPlayer and ALTBalaji reality show will see 16 contestants imprisoned for 72 days, where they will be tested, questioned and challenged for basic amenities. Joining the show is television actor Nisha Rawal, who filed an FIR against husband and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor Karan Mehra citing domestic abuse. Rawal is currently fighting a custody battle for son Kavish. But the actor insists that the controversy is not her claim to fame. "I want people to know that [my divorce] is not the defining moment of my life. I have been blessed to have endorsed some prestigious brands, done more than 500 campaigns, music videos, Bollywood, and TV shows. People who have seen me on screen don't know the real Nisha Rawal. [This was my chance] to connect with the audience," says the actor, who has been part of the industry for over two decades.

Rawal insists that Lock Upp is unlike Bigg Boss. "I was promised that the show is unlike any other reality show. Even though it has a few similarities with Bigg Boss, the nature of the show is different. I decided to come on board because I felt that it was a show where my intellect would be stimulated, and my talent tapped into. I would be projected in the right way," says the actor. Despite the show's benefits, leaving her son at home was not an easy decision. "Kavish is four-and-a-half-years-old. I do not expect him to understand everything. My mother will watch the show and my son will see only certain parts of the show. I intend to send messages through videos from inside, so that he can watch his mother every day." Rawal says that she has been preparing her son for her departure since a few days.

Asked if she is anxious about Mehra's reactions when she is locked up in the house, Rawal says, she doesn't wish to discuss her ex-husband. "I don't want to glorify or bring down anyone else. The legal battle is on, and I have my fears like any other woman in my position. I am going to keep following the right course of action."