Vikas Gupta is an Indian TV producer, creative director, screenwriter, reality TV star, and host. He is known for working on TV serials like Gumrah: End of Innocence (2012 to 2016), The Serial (2012), MTV Webbed (2013 to 2014), and Yeh Hai Aashiqui (2014 to 2016). He was a participant in several seasons of Bigg Boss.
Wiki/Biography
Vikas was born on Thursday, 7 May 1988 (age 36 years; as of 2024) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He did his schooling in Cambrian Hall, Dehradun. He attended Rai University in Ahmedabad but dropped out within the first year.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 6′ 0″
Weight (approx.): 80 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 42″, Waist: 34″, Biceps: 14″
Family & Caste
Vikas was born in a middle-class Vaishya family in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was raised in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Parents & Siblings
His mother’s name is Sharda Gupta. He has three siblings; two brothers, Watan Gupta and Siddharth Gupta and a sister Komal Gupta. Siddarth Gupta is an actor and model. His sister Komal is married and settled in Gujarat.
Vikas Gupta (second from right) with his mother, Sharda, and brothers, Siddarth (extreme left) and Watan Gupta (extreme right)
Vikas Gupta’s mother and sister (right)
Wife & Children
Vikas Gupta is the parent of a foster child named Simba. Simba is a part of the Lost Boy Welfare Association orphanage of which Vikas is the director.
Vikas Gupta with Simba
Other Relatives
The Indian actor, Anshuman Malhotra is his cousin. Anshuman has acted in films such as Haider (2014), Love Sleep Repeat (2019) and I Am Draupadi (2021).
Vikas Gupta’s cousin Anshuman Malhotra
Relationships/Affairs
Rumoured Boyfriends
In 2020, Vikas Gupta came out as bisexual. He was rumoured to be in a relationship with Parth Samthaan. Former Bigg Boss contestant Priyank Sharma was also his rumoured boyfriend.
Pratyusha Banerjee
In 2021, Vikas revealed that he was in a relationship with Pratyusha Banerjee (1991 – 2016). Pratyusha was an actress who passed away on 1 April 2016 by suicide. She is best known for acting in the Hindi serial, Balika Vadhu (2008 to 2016). During an interview in 2021, he stated that he had been in a relationship with only two women, and Pratyusha was one among them. He alleged that they dated for a short while and that he was very angry with her and ignored her after their break-up. He also mentioned that he told Pratyusha about his bisexuality after they parted.
Vikas Gupta with Late Pratyusha Banerjee
Affair With Eijaz Khan’s Ex-Girlfriend
In 2020, Vikas claimed to have had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of Bigg Boss Season 14 co-contestant, Eijaz Khan. Vikas and Eijaz got into a fight when he claimed that the latter’s ex cheated on him with Vikas. He claimed to find out that the ex was cheating after becoming “friendly” with her. Eijaz went on to claim that his ex filed a police complaint against him because Vikas instigated her.
Vikas Gupta (left) and Eijaz Khan in an argument during Season 14 of Bigg Boss
Career
Vikas Gupta started his career as an intern at Balaji Telefilms at the age of 17. He was fired after four days. He was one of the youngest creative heads in Balaji Telefilms. Vikas Gupta also worked under the TV director Deeya Singh. One day, the person who fired him from Balaji Telefilms called him back after acknowledging his work. Vikas then moved to Mumbai and started writing for Bhimsain Khurana, the director of Bollywood film Gharaonda (1977).
Television
As a creative director with Balaji Telefilms, he worked under the guidance of Ekta Kapoor on series such as Kyunki… Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi… (2005 to 2008), Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2008 to 2010), and Kitani Mohabbat Hai (2009). In 2012, he launched Lost Boy Media Productions and started working as a producer and writer. As a producer and writer, he worked on serials such as The Serial (2012), MTV Webbed (2013 to 2016), and MTV Webbed (2013 to 2014). In 2014, he was made the Programming Head of MTV. He also wrote and produced for BBC Studios India. He quit BBC and took a one-year hiatus to work in theatre and to travel.
Lost Boy Media Productions
Lost Boy Media Productions (LBMP) Pvt. Ltd. was founded by Vikas Gupta in 2012. It is an independent entertainment company that is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Under LBMP, he made pitches to TV channels. He made a pilot with Channel V which got rejected. He then pitched the idea for the show Gumrah which was picked up. Gumrah: End of Innocence (2012 to 2016) earned him two award nominations and one win.
A poster of Vikas Gupta’s show, Gumrah: End of Innocence
LBMP put out series such as Code Red (2015; also known as Code Red Chakravyuh, Code Red Umeed, Code Red Awaaz, Code Red Talaash) and Rani Mahal (2015). Under LBMP he also put out web series such as Class of 2017 (2017) and Puncch Beat (2019).
TV Appearances
Vikas tried his luck in acting and even started shooting for the TV serial Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani (2010) but after a few days, he quit the show. He has been the host and contestant of several reality TV shows and events. He was the host of Bad Company (2015), the 2018 IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Awards) Buzz, Ace of Space 1 (2018), and Ace of Space 2 (2019).
Vikas Gupta on the poster of Ace of Space 1 (2018), a show on MTV which he hosted
He was a contestant on reality shows such as Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 9 (2019) where he was disqualified and placed 8th, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge (2020), and multiple seasons of Bigg Boss.
Vikas Gupta (sitting, right) with the team of Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi 9, on which he was a contestant
Big Boss
In 2017, he participated in the popular reality show Bigg Boss Season 11 (Padosi Bajayenge Barah), hosted by Salman Khan. He was the second runner-up of the series.
Vikas Gupta (left) in Bigg Boss Season 11
He then appeared on Bigg Boss Season 12 (Bigg Boss: Vichitra Jodis; 2018) as a guest. He was also a part of Bigg Boss Season 13 (Bigg Boss Tedha; 2019), where he entered as a “proxy” for Devoleena Bhattacharjee. He left once his duration was completed. He participated once again in Season 14 (Bigg Boss: “Ab Scene Paltega”; 2020 to 2021) as a “challenger”. He was ejected and then brought back. His ejection was surrounded by controversy as he pushed co-contestant Arshi Khan into a pool. Speaking of his experience, he said,
Yes, I am out of Bigg Boss house. I have isolated myself alone so that I can think about what happened. I was hurt by someone I know. I was also in a vulnerable state and I did a mistake, I am being punished. Just pray and hope good things happen.”
Vikas Gupta in Bigg Boss Season 14
He was finally evicted once again in week 17 by public vote.
Writer
Apart from being a producer, he is also a screenwriter and wrote the scripts of several TV serials like Mujhe Meri Family Se Bachao (episode writer; 2011), Golden Era With Annu Kapoor (episode writer; 2011), and Desi Beats (2011). He is also the creator and writer of the shows MTV Webbed (2013) and The Serial (2012 to 2013).
LOST and FOUND Talent Management & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
In 2016, Vikas started the LOST and FOUND Talent Management and Entertainment company, to make a brand name out of the talent that they find. The company has managed big names such as Priyank Sharma, Rohit Suchanti, Ayyaz Ahmed, Anshuman Malhotra, Roshni Wadhwani, and Fahad Ali by helping them move to Bollywood. His company’s headquarters is in Mumbai.
Vikas Gupta with Priyank Sharma
Controversies
Sexual Allegations Against Vikas Gupta
In 2013, Vikas Gupta’s alleged ex-boyfriend, Parth Samthan, accused Vikas of molesting him. However, a few days later they were both seen partying together in Goa. In an interview, Ekta Kapoor mentioned that Parth and Vikas were in a relationship. She said,
Vikas and Parth were close to each other and were in a relationship. Parth has accused Vikas of touching him inappropriately on December 7, 2013 and 20 days later, he was with Vikas holidaying in Bangkok! I know because I was also there to bring in the New Year. I have seen several videos of him professing his love for Vikas.”
Parth denied Ekta’s statements and said it was common knowledge that he was in a relationship with a girl. In an interview, Parth also revealed that Vikas had not paid him Rs. 5,50,000 for the show ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya’. He also alleged that Vikas demanded a ransom of Rs. 50,00,000 and threatened to ruin Parth’s career. Parth filed a police complaint against Vikas based on the allegations made, and the latter was served a court notice. He made a statement and filed the complaint at the Versova Police Station in Mumbai. In response, Vikas released a picture of Parth kissing his cheek and captioned it “who’s molesting who”.
The picture released by Vikas Gupta (left) of Parth Samthaan kissing his cheek
Parth accepted that it was him in the picture and said he was ready to move on and focus on his career. He said,
Of course I am in the pic. It’s not morphed. Vikas and I were friends and these things are pretty normal moments of bonhomie when you are cordial with each other…Why would he even do something which could jeopardise mine and his career, goes beyond my understanding. He leaks out something, the media calls me. Tomorrow I leak out something, the media will call him. How long will this continue? I am of tired of it now.”
Allegations Made By Vikas Kohker
In January 2021, Vikas Khoker claimed that after he won ‘Roadies 9,’ Vikas Gupta had asked him to get sexually involved with him. He claimed that Gupta asked him to come to his home to give him a massage and demanded objectionable pictures. He also alleged that Gupta took away career opportunities from people who didn’t agree with him. During an interview with Navbharat Times, he said,
I sent some of my pictures but he asked me to send nudes. He told me that he wanted to see my body and private parts.”
Vikas Gupta (left) with Vikas Khoker, who made sexual allegations against the former
In 2021, he alleged that Gupta and his people threatened him to retract his statements or face defamation charges.
Statements Made Against Vikas Gupta On Bigg Boss
When he was a contestant on Bigg Boss Season 11, Shilpa Shinde labelled Vikas as the “mafia of the TV industry” and blamed him for being evicted from Bigg Boss. She further stated that Vikas uses drugs. Bigg Boss Season 14 contestants Aly Goni and Jasmin Bhasin alleged that Vikas took work away from others. Another contestant, Arshi Khan alleged that Vikas had removed her from several projects that left her unemployed for a long time.
Controversy Around Coming Out As Bisexual
In 2020, Vikas Gupta posted on his social media accounts that he was bisexual. He stated that he was forced to come out as he was blackmailed and bullied by Bigg Boss co-contestants Priyank Sharma and Parth Samthaan. He also spoke about his friends, parents and siblings being ashamed of him.
Hi Just wanted to let you know a tiny detail about me. I fall in love with the human regardless of their gender. There r more like me. With #Pride I am Bisexual #VikasGupta PS No more being blackmailed or bullied #priyanksharma #ParthSamthaan ThankU for forcing me to come out 😊 pic.twitter.com/0N403EDukp
— Vikas Gupta (@Iam_VikasGupta) June 20, 2020
During his time on Bigg Boss 14, Vikas spoke about how his mother and brother (Siddarth Gupta) abandoned him after he publically came out as bisexual (in 2020). He claimed that they were uncomfortable with his sexual orientation. During an interview with The Times of India, he said,
My brother Sid and my mother left my home some time ago, things had gone very bad after I disclosed my bisexuality to the world. My family finds it embarrassing to have me around them. They don’t want to be seen with me.”
Vikas Gupta (right) and his brother, Siddharth Gupta with whom he had a falling out in 2020
In 2021, his mother, Sharda Gupta, put out a statement in response to his allegations on her social media platforms. While she admitted that the family had cut ties with him, she denied the reasoning Vikas gave. She said,
To think that we actually distanced our own (son) for his sexual orientation is equal to making a derogatory statement about my family. Yes, my son and I are not on great terms but that has nothing to do with his orientation. We had cut off ties with him much before he decided to come out in public, and we knew and have always loved him and accepted him the way he is.”
Awards
- In 2012, Vikas won an award under the Best Serial category at the Indian Television Academy Awards, for his work in the TV series Gumrah: End of Innocence.
- In 2018, Vikas won the TV Personality of the Year award at the 24th Lions Gold Awards.
Vikas Gupta posing with his TV Personality of the Year award
- In 2018, the Arya Group of Colleges awarded Vikas at the Most Enterprising Brands & Leaders of Asia Awards.
Vikas Gupta (centre) receiving the Most Enterprising Brands & Leaders of Asia Awards 2018
- In 2018 he also won the Break Through Artist Of The Year award at the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards.
Facts/Trivia
- After 12th standard and before joining Rai University, Ahmedabad, Vikas had enrolled in a college that he could not attend as it was shut down.
- During a segment with MTV India, Vikas revealed that although the birth year on his birth and school certificates is 1988, it isn’t his real age.
- The famous Indian TV producer Ekta Kapoor is his Rakhi sister.
Vikas Gupta with Ekta Kapoor
- He is referred to as the “mastermind”.
- He dedicated his Most Enterprising Brands & Leaders of Asia 2018 award to the Late Sridevi, who always inspired him.
- He takes a lot of interest in writing and swimming.
Vikas Gupta swimming
- After quitting his job with BBC Studios India and taking a break for a year, Vikas couldn’t return to the industry as no one would hire him. He has Rs. 2000 in his bank account. This experience led him to found Lost Boy Media Productions.
- He is an animal lover and has a dog named Pikachu.
Vikas Gupta with his dog, Pikachu
- As of March 2024, Vikas has 1.8 million followers on Instagram and 407.5K followers on X (formerly Twitter).
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education