# Harshad Chopda (हर्षद चोपड़ा)
**Harshad Chopda** (हर्षद चोपड़ा; born 1983) is an Indian television actor known for lead roles in Hindi daily soaps including *Left Right Left*, *Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil*, *Tere Liye*, *Bepannah*, *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*, and *[Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/bade-achhe-lagte-hain-4)*, and for his 2026 debut on the reality show *[Lock Upp](https://www.edgepedia.org/lock-upp-season-2): Sach Ya Sazaa*.[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239) • [2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1245808)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Gondia, Maharashtra, India[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3816889/) |
| Television debut | 2006 as Karan Srivastav in Zee TV's *Mamta*; breakthrough the same year as Cadet Ali Baig in *Left Right Left* on Sab TV[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239) |
| Signature role | Aditya Hooda in *Bepannah* (2018), an Indian Air Force pilot opposite Jennifer Winget's Zoya Siddiqui[4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7) |
| Other lead roles | Prem Juneja in *Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil* (2008–2010), Anurag in *Tere Liye* (2010), Dr. Abhimanyu Birla in *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai* (2021–2023), Rishabh in *Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4* (2025)[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239) • [2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1245808) • [5](https://indianexpress.com/about/harshad-chopra/) |
| Awards | 2010 Indian Telly Award for Best Actor for *Tere Liye*; multiple Indian Television Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Male) Popular[6](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/tv-actor/harshad-chopda) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Harshad-Chopda/awards) |
| Reality television | First reality appearance on *Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa* season 2 (2026); left the show after giving up his finalist spot for co-contestant Shivangi Joshi[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/lock-upp-harshad-chopda-sacrifices-finale-spot-for-shivangi-joshi-gets-evicted-10816811/lite/) |
| Education | Engineering degree from a college in Pune before moving to Mumbai to act[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/harshad-is-cheerful/articleshow/2968454.cms) |
## Early life and entry into acting
Chopda was born in Gondia, Maharashtra, into a Marwari Jain family, and trained as an engineer in Pune before moving to Mumbai to pursue acting.[10](https://f4u.in/biography/harshad-chopda-actor/) • [9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/harshad-is-cheerful/articleshow/2968454.cms) In a 2008 interview with *The Times of India*, he described himself as an engineer from Pune who hailed from a small town near Nagpur, and said he did not believe in keeping an alternative career: "I am very focussed and don't believe in having a back up. I don't just like to act but like to live a character."[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/harshad-is-cheerful/articleshow/2968454.cms)
## Television career
**Debut and early roles.** Chopda made his television debut in 2006 as Karan Srivastav in [Zee TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-tv)'s drama *Mamta*, and his breakthrough came the same year when he joined the military youth drama *Left Right Left* as Cadet Ali Baig on Sab TV.[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239) The military drama, set in the fictional Kanchanjunga Military Academy, cast him as a disciplined, sincere trainee officer in an ensemble; his performance was noticed for its intensity and helped him gain industry recognition.[4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7) He followed this with the male lead as Akshat Mehra in *Amber Dhara* (2007–2008), a show about conjoined twin sisters.[4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7)
**Romantic leads.** His role as Prem Juneja in *Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil* (2008–2010) showcased his romantic side and established him as a dependable leading actor.[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239) • [4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7) As Anurag Shekhar Ganguly in *[Tere Liye](https://www.edgepedia.org/tere-liye-tv-series)* (2010), his character's emotional journey from carefree youth to a man battling heartbreak and mental trauma earned him widespread critical acclaim, and the performance won him the 2010 Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role (Male).[4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7) • [6](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/tv-actor/harshad-chopda) He also played Raghavendra "Raghav" Pratapsingh in *[Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava?](https://www.edgepedia.org/dil-se-di-dua-saubhagyavati-bhava)* (2011) and Sahir in *Humsafars* (2014).[2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1245808)
**Bepannah.** One of his most celebrated performances came in *Bepannah*, which aired on [Colors TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/colors-tv) from 19 March 2018 to 30 November 2018. He played Captain Aditya Hooda, an [Indian Air Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-air-force) pilot and businessman opposite [Jennifer Winget](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-winget)'s Zoya Siddiqui; the story follows two people whose partners die in a car crash while holding hands, revealing an affair.[4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7) His portrayal won praise and awards, and Aditya became an audience favorite known for sarcastic one-liners.[4](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7) In an interview around the show's release, he described himself as someone who enjoys solitude but is not a lonely man.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/bepannaah-actor-harshad-chopda-i-am-not-a-lonely-man-but-i-enjoy-solitude-5103617/)
**Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.** In 2021 Chopda returned to television as Dr. Abhimanyu Birla, the male lead of the third generation of Rajan Shahi's long-running Star Plus drama *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*, opposite Pranali Rathod.[2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1245808) • [12](https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/television/producer-confirms-creative-differences-with-harshad-chopda-during-yeh-rishta-kya-kehlata-hai-shoot) The stint brought him multiple awards, including Indian Television Academy honors for popular male actors.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Harshad-Chopda/awards) He and Rathod were later replaced in the lead roles by [Shehzada Dhami](https://www.edgepedia.org/shehzada-dhami) and [Samridhii Shukla](https://www.edgepedia.org/samridhii-shukla), and producer Rajan Shahi publicly confirmed creative differences with Chopda during the shoot.[12](https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/television/producer-confirms-creative-differences-with-harshad-chopda-during-yeh-rishta-kya-kehlata-hai-shoot)
**Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 4.** In 2025 he returned to television starring opposite [Shivangi Joshi](https://www.edgepedia.org/shivangi-joshi) in a new season of *Bade Achhe Lagte Hain*, playing Rishabh to Joshi's Bhagyashree; coverage of the season emphasized the lead pair's chemistry.[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/harshad-chopra/) • [13](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2025/06/28/pages.pdf)
## Film
After roughly nine television shows, Chopda moved toward films with his debut in *2016 The End*, released in October 2017.[14](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/will-cherish-the-experience-humsafar-s-harshad-chopda-on-his-debut-film/story-sUvzNYNgxM1ua9EYufCyjJ.html) • [2](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1245808)
## Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa
In 2026 Chopda made his reality television debut as a contestant on *Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa* season 2, streaming on Netflix, alongside fellow debutant [Dheeraj Dhoopar](https://www.edgepedia.org/dheeraj-dhoopar).[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239) • [15](https://varietyindia.com/harshad-chopda-gives-up-lock-upp-sach-ya-sazaa-finale-spot-for-shivangi-joshi-leaves-fans-disappointed/) His on-screen bond with co-contestant Shivangi Joshi, his *Bade Achhe Lagte Hain* co-star, became a major talking point of the season, drawing both fan attention and criticism of staged-feeling moments.[16](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/lock-upp-2-apoorva-makhija-shivangi-joshi-harshad-chopda-stuck-in-a-tv-serial-10802852/lite/)
In the race-to-the-finale stage, host [Riteish Deshmukh](https://www.edgepedia.org/riteish-deshmukh) asked Chopda to choose between his own place in the game and Joshi's future on the show; he made Joshi the first finalist and walked out, and was evicted.[17](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/lock-upp-harshad-chopda-exits-after-making-shivangi-joshi-first-finalist-2962801-2026-08-03) • [8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/lock-upp-harshad-chopda-sacrifices-finale-spot-for-shivangi-joshi-gets-evicted-10816811/lite/) Afterward he told *Hindustan Times* that he did not want to show this side of himself, and in an interview with mid-day he described the reality-show experience as mentally taxing, saying he entered the show to present his real self rather than to win and that he was still recovering from its after-effects.[18](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/harshad-chopda-breaks-silence-on-his-eviction-from-lock-upp-2-says-he-did-not-want-to-show-this-side-of-himself-101785851958282-amp.html) • [19](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/harshad-chopda-gets-candid-about-lock-upp-impact-on-his-mental-well-being-23645151)
## Recognition
Chopda has won five awards, including [Indian Television Academy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-television-academy-awards) in the popular actor category, and a Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Most Favourite Television Actor in 2020.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Harshad-Chopda/awards) • [20](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/dadasaheb-phalke-awards-2020-harshad-chopda-bags-favourite-television-actor-award-cannot-keep-calm/) His intense romantic roles and screen presence over two decades on Indian television have built him a large fan following, and he is known for keeping his personal life private and staying out of the limelight between shows.[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239)
## References
1. [Harshad Chopda Meme Fest: From TV Heartthrob To Troll King On Lock Upp 2, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/harshad-chopda-meme-fest-from-tv-heartthrob-to-troll-king-on-lock-upp-2-11800239)
2. [Harshad Chopda, FilmNoir App](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/1245808)
3. [Harshad Chopda, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3816889/)
4. [Harshad Chopda makes reality TV debut with Lock Upp; look back at his 11 iconic daily soaps, Mid-Day](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/entertainment/web-series/photo/harshad-chopda-in-lock-upp-a-look-back-at-his-11-iconic-tv-shows-111812/7)
5. [Harshad Chopra News, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/harshad-chopra/)
6. [Hindi TV Actor Harshad Chopda Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/tv-actor/harshad-chopda)
7. [Harshad Chopda Awards, eTimes, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Harshad-Chopda/awards)
8. [Lock Upp: Harshad Chopda sacrifices spot in finale for Shivangi Joshi, gets evicted, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/lock-upp-harshad-chopda-sacrifices-finale-spot-for-shivangi-joshi-gets-evicted-10816811/lite/)
9. [Harshad is cheerful!, The Times of India (22 April 2008)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/harshad-is-cheerful/articleshow/2968454.cms)
10. [Harshad Chopda (Actor) Biography, F4U](https://f4u.in/biography/harshad-chopda-actor/)
11. [Bepannaah actor Harshad Chopda: I enjoy solitude but I am not a lonely man, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/bepannaah-actor-harshad-chopda-i-am-not-a-lonely-man-but-i-enjoy-solitude-5103617/)
12. [Producer confirms creative differences with Harshad Chopda during Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai shoot, Republic World](https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/television/producer-confirms-creative-differences-with-harshad-chopda-during-yeh-rishta-kya-kehlata-hai-shoot)
13. [YUGMARG edition, 28 June 2025](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2025/06/28/pages.pdf)
14. [Will cherish the experience: Humsafar's Harshad Chopda on his debut film, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/will-cherish-the-experience-humsafar-s-harshad-chopda-on-his-debut-film/story-sUvzNYNgxM1ua9EYufCyjJ.html)
15. [Harshad Chopda Gives Up Lock Upp Finale Spot, Fans Upset, Variety India](https://varietyindia.com/harshad-chopda-gives-up-lock-upp-sach-ya-sazaa-finale-spot-for-shivangi-joshi-leaves-fans-disappointed/)
16. [Lock Upp 2: Apoorva Makhija asks Shivangi Joshi, Harshad Chopda if they're 'stuck in a TV serial', The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/lock-upp-2-apoorva-makhija-shivangi-joshi-harshad-chopda-stuck-in-a-tv-serial-10802852/lite/)
17. [Lock Upp twist: Harshad Chopda exits after making Shivangi Joshi first finalist, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/lock-upp-harshad-chopda-exits-after-making-shivangi-joshi-first-finalist-2962801-2026-08-03)
18. [Harshad Chopda breaks silence on his eviction from Lock Upp 2, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/harshad-chopda-breaks-silence-on-his-eviction-from-lock-upp-2-says-he-did-not-want-to-show-this-side-of-himself-101785851958282-amp.html)
19. [Harshad Chopda opens up about Lock Upp's mental toll, Mid-Day](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/harshad-chopda-gets-candid-about-lock-upp-impact-on-his-mental-well-being-23645151)
20. [Dadasaheb Phalke Awards 2020: Harshad Chopda bags the Most Favourite Television Actor award, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/dadasaheb-phalke-awards-2020-harshad-chopda-bags-favourite-television-actor-award-cannot-keep-calm/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames C to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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