# Shobhika Bali Breaks Silence: “It Was Real Friendship, Not Convenience”

URL: https://technosports.co.in/shobhika-bali-breaks-silence-it-was-real-friendship-not-convenience/  
Published: 2026-05-10  
Updated: 2026-05-10  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Shobhika Bali, one of the original contestants on MTV Splitsvilla X5, was evicted alongside Sachin Sharma and Unnati Tomar — but she left with a lot to say. In an exclusive chat with Pinkvilla, she fired back at accusations, addressed a surprising betrayal, and picked her winner for the season.

| Show | [MTV Splitsvilla X5](https://www.mtvindia.com/shows/splitsvilla) |
| --- | --- |
| Premiered | March 30, 2024 |
| Hosts | Sunny Leone & Tanuj Virwani |
| Shobhika’s Alliance | Harsh Arora & Rushali Yadav |
| Times Saved by Allies | 3 out of 12 dome sessions |
| Evicted With | Sachin Sharma, Unnati Tomar |
| Season Winner Pick | Harsh Arora & Rushali Yadav |

## The “Convenience Friendship” Accusation — Her Response

Throughout the season, viewers questioned whether **Shobhika Bali**‘s closeness with the power couple Harsh Arora and Rushali Yadav was strategic. She shut that down firmly, saying their bond started even before the show — during the drive to Splitsvilla — and that it remained genuine throughout.

“If I was the kind of person who would make friendships for benefits, I would have made more connections to gain more benefits.”

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shgobsbs.jpg)

She also pointed out that being saved three times in twelve dome sessions is far from a pattern of dependency. And she drew a fair parallel — Deekila consistently saved Unnati too, and no one called that friendship fake.

## The Betrayal That Stung Most

Ask Shobhika about betrayal and she laughs first — then gets honest. The moment that hit hardest was being dumped by Harsh himself. For her, it wasn’t about strategy; it was the source that stung. She considered Harsh one of her closest connections on the show, making his decision unexpected and personal. Tough pill to swallow from your “brother.”

## Shobhika’s One-Word Roundup of Fellow Contestants

| Contestant | Shobhika’s One Word |
| --- | --- |
| Harsh Arora | Brother |
| Rushali Yadav | Star Performer |
| Shubhi | Third Wheel |
| Arbaaz | Strong |
| Devkaran | Hilarious |
| Aniket | Football |
| Deekila | Cute |

## Who Could She Have Fallen For?

Shobhika admitted 35 days is simply not long enough for her to develop romantic feelings. If she were to go back, she’d probably explore a connection with Lakshay — she calls him “quite cool” — or Devkaran, with whom she shares a comfortable friendship.

## Her Pick to Win Splitsvilla X5

No hesitation here — **Harsh and Rushali**, all the way. She praised Rushali as a near-unbeatable task performer and called Harsh a sharp strategist, pointing to his deal with Lakshay to save Rushali as a masterstroke. For more on [Splitsvilla season recaps and reality TV updates, visit Technosports](https://technosports.co.in/tag/mtv-splitsvilla/).

If you enjoy watching India’s biggest dating reality formats, also check out our [entertainment section on Technosports.co.in](https://technosports.co.in/entertainment/) for the latest buzz. The show airs every Saturday and Sunday at 7 PM on [MTV India](https://www.mtvindia.com/).

## FAQs

### Was Shobhika Bali’s friendship with Harsh and Rushali strategic on Splitsvilla X5?

According to Shobhika Bali, the friendship was completely genuine. She says the bond with Rushali began even before filming started, and that Harsh and she built a strong connection over time. She argues that someone using friendships for strategy would have forged far more alliances than she did.

### Who does Shobhika Bali think will win MTV Splitsvilla X5?

Shobhika is backing Harsh Arora and Rushali Yadav to take the trophy. She highlighted Rushali’s exceptional task record and Harsh’s game intelligence as the combination most likely to dominate till the end.