Abhishek 'Shake' Chatterjee, who has gained a reputation since appearing on Love Is Blind season 2, says that he is set to be the "villain" during the upcoming "After The Alter" reunion. Shake, a 32-year-old veterinarian, quickly became a sensation when Netflix released the first set of Love Is Blind season 2 episodes on February 11. While the show — hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey — strives to match people based on personality rather than looks, Shake was set on figuring out what the person he was speaking to in the pods looked like. Viewers watched as Shake asked Mallory, Iyanna, Hope, Chassidy, and Deepti Vempati about their physical characteristics with varying success. While most of the women were quick to turn Shake's attempts at conversation down, Shake and Deepti, who are both from Indian backgrounds, formed a connection. Shake ultimately proposed to Deepti in the pods, which she accepted, and when the two finally met in person, Shake's face lit up in clear excitement.
Unfortunately, Shake's treatment of Deepti and their engagement led to the 31-year-old data analyst walking away on their wedding day. Although Shake recognized Deepti's beauty upon meeting, he later told other Love Is Blind cast members that he was not physically attracted to her. The majority of fans believed that Shake and Deepti would indeed part ways due to Shake's inability to fully commit, despite a heartwarming moment shared between the couple during episode 9. Just before the final episode of Love Is Blind dropped on February 25, Shake spoiled how his wedding to Deepti worked out on Instagram. Since Deepti's declaration that she deserved someone better at the altar, Shake has been under fire from viewers, Love Is Blind contestants and even Deepti's own family.
The "After The Altar" special, which reunites all the Love Is Blind couples in one room to see where each relationship stands, is set to be released on March 4. Like with his and Deepti's wedding, Shake has given several indications that the finale will be as dramatic as the rest of the series. In an Instagram Story posted on March 1, Shake reveals that his upcoming appearance will be one to remember, especially after being contacted by the streaming channel themselves. "Ok I heard from Netflix about the reunion and it is nothing short of a trainwreck for me," he says. Shake added, "I felt like [the] villain so I played one," and that taking on the villain was "low key was fun at times."
Shake has made it clear that he is aware of how he is perceived, which is evident by his recent Instagram posts implying that Netflix's editing plays a factor, it may be why he chose to shake (no pun intended) things up at the reunion. In an Instagram video posted on February 26, Shake asks for constructive criticism in a moment of self-reflection. "If you have a suggestion on how to make me better, let me know," he tells viewers, although he adds, "[But] maybe keep the hate to yourself." Three days later, however, Shake reaffirms his defensive position with another video. "One thing I don't feel inclined to do is pretend I'm sad or sorry about certain things that were out of my control," he explains. Clearly referencing his relationship with Deepti and the hate he's gotten because of it, Shake continues, "I'm not sorry. I think I handled [the engagement] as best as anyone in my situation could." Ending his speech with, "You don't have to like me! Only I have to like me, thankfully. And that's real life," Shake has since turned off commenting.
While Shake and Deepti didn't prove that love is blind, two couples ended up marrying: Iyanna McNeely and Jarrette Jones were fan-favorites from the start, while Danielle Ruhl and Nick Thompson took longer to form a connection. In a shocking ending, Natalie Lee and Shayne Jansen split on their wedding day after an explosive, un-filmed, fight, as did Mallory Zapata and Salvador Perez. With Shake and Kyle Abrams now at odds online, anything can happen in between now and Friday.
Love Is Blind's "After The Altar" airs on March 4 at 3 a.m. EST on Netflix.
Source: Abhishek 'Shake' Chatterjee/Instagram