Apoorva Mukhija, known as "The Rebel Kid," has found herself at the center of discussions surrounding her appearance on the Indian version of "The Traitors," hosted by Karan Johar. While she has garnered praise for her strategic gameplay, she has also faced criticism for her behavior and comments on the show.
One particular point of contention arose when veteran actor Sudhanshu Pandey, also a contestant on "The Traitors," voiced his disapproval of Mukhija's conduct. Pandey called out Mukhija for what he perceived as a dismissive and disrespectful tone towards senior actor Ashish Vidyarthi. He specifically referenced a comment Mukhija made about Vidyarthi's potential elimination, questioning her casual manner of speaking about a seasoned artist.
In an interview with Zoom, Pandey criticized the younger generation's lack of cultural understanding and their tendency to use abusive language. He stated that while Mukhija is a good kid with a kind heart, her "bad language" overshadows her positive qualities. Pandey also expressed concern about the message sent to the audience when contestants use profanity on camera, suggesting they believe it is "cool" to behave that way.
Mukhija, however, seems unfazed by the criticism. In an interview with SCREEN, she stated that her goal on the show was to catch a traitor and be entertaining, and she does not care if people misunderstand her. She added that she is not there to make friends and is not concerned with those who are not paying her bills.
Mukhija also addressed Pandey's remarks about Gen Z, where he said that despite being good people, they are extremely misled. Mukhija responded by stating that Pandey has said more about her and other contestants outside of the show than he did during the competition.
Notably, Mukhija has also addressed a past controversy related to "India's Got Latent," stating that "The Traitors" was filmed before the incident, allowing her to fully immerse herself in the game without the weight of public scrutiny. She admitted that had she filmed the show after the controversy, she would have been more careful with her words.
Despite the controversies, "The Traitors" has been a success, with Prime Video confirming a second season. The show's format, which involves deception and psychological manipulation, has drawn comparisons to the Dutch series "De Verraders" and has been franchised in various countries. The Indian adaptation, hosted by Karan Johar, features contestants divided into "Traitors" and "Innocents," tasking the latter with identifying the former. The show has also seen its fair share of drama, including a short-lived friendship and subsequent fallout between Mukhija and fellow contestant Uorfi Javed.
While some viewers have accused the show of being rigged to protect certain contestants, producers have denied these claims. Regardless, "The Traitors" continues to generate buzz and spark conversations about the dynamics between contestants, the use of language, and the ethical considerations of reality television.
