‘I Was Just Trying To Win Hearts’

‘Somewhere
they
felt
that
this
guy
is
notorious
because
of
what
we
read
in
the
media.’
‘I
was
just
trying
to
make
people
understand
who
the
real
me
is.’
‘But
you
can’t
be
the
real
you.’

Raj
Kundra
has
been
evicted
from
the
OTT
reality
show,

The
Traitors,
but
seems
thrilled
of
his
time
spent
there.

From
navigating
trust
and
betrayal
to
the
thrill
of
strategy,
he
reflects
on
what
makes
the
show
unlike
anything
else
on
Indian
television.

“I
call
it

Kalyug
ka
show
because
this
is

kalyug,”
Raj
tells


Rediff‘s

Shristi
Sahoo.
“In
the
morning,
you
are
friends
and
at
night,
someone
is
backstabbing
you.
My
wife
is
hooked
to
it.”

How
did
the
show
resonate
with
you
on
a
deeper
level?

I
enjoyed
the
show.
We
knew
what
we
were
getting
into.

I
have
seen

The
Traitors
in
the
UK,
I
like
the
concept.

I
played
to
what
I
understood
the
game
format
to
be.

There
are
no
hard
feelings.
You
trust
people,
but
you
have
to
deceive
them.

You
have
to
work
with
your
instincts,
and
sometimes,
you
get
it
wrong.
I
think
the
first
murder
sent
ripples,

sabke
hosh
ud
gaye.

Sahil
Salathia
got
killed
and
everything
just
turned.

Everyone
was
confused.

They
thought
Sahil
had
a
close
friend
in
Elnaaz,
so

uske
upar
se
toh
shaq
hat
hi
gaya
tha.

What
we
tried
to
do
as
the
Traitors
was
play
the
game.

Even
in
the
Circle
of

Shaq,
you
see
my
own
Traitors
throwing
me
under
the
bus.
But
it’s
a
part
of
the
game.

Who
do
you
think
demonstrated
the
most
strategic
prowess?

I
think
the
underdog
was
Jannat
Zubair
because
she
comes
across
as
this
very
sweet
kid.

It’s
not
a
game
show
for
sweet,
kind
people.

The
strongest
player
is
Apoorva
Makhija.

If
you
could
hit
rewind,
what
strategies
would
you
implement?

I
don’t
think
it’s
a
show
you
can
play
by
yourself
because
you’ve
come
with
so
many
preconceived
notions.

I
just
thought
everyone
was
gunning
for
me.

When
the
traitors
were
chosen,
I
went
a
little
aggressive
by
trying
to
be
fun
and
friendly.
I
switched
from
this
quiet
person
to
learning
and
listening.

I
think
in
the
excitement
of
the
game,
I
went
too
fast,
so
then
I
slowed
down.

But
I
think
it’s
an
interesting
game
show.

There’s
so
much
you
can
learn
about
people.

I
call
it

Kalyug
ka
show
because
this
is

kalyug.
In
the
morning,
you
are
friends
and
at
night,
someone
is
backstabbing
you.

My
wife
(the
actress
Shilpa
Shetty)
is
hooked
to
it,
so
audiences
are
liking
it.

What
made
you
take
up
the
show?

This
game
rewards
deception
but
punishes
perception.

I
think
it
came
with
a
lot
of
preconceived
notions.

Somewhere
they
felt
that
I
come
with
privilege
or
that
this
guy
is
notorious
because
of
what
we
read
in
the
media.

I
was
just
trying
to
win
hearts
and
make
people
understand
who
the
real
me
is.

But
you
can’t
be
the
real
you.

You
have
to
come
with
a
little
bit
of
deception.

So
the
perception
didn’t
work
for
me.

How
do
you
feel

The
Traitors
is
different
from
other
reality
shows
in
India?

It’s
so
well
cast.

The
show
format
is
different.
India
has
never
seen
a
show
like
this.

We’ve
just
seen
different
kinds
of
reality
shows,
with
just
arguments
and
fights.

This
has
got
a
little
event.
You
have
competitions
and
prizes
to
win.

It’s
like
a
mix
of
two,
three
different
shows,
but
with
its
own
uniqueness.

Karan
Johar
brought
so
much
to
the
table.
People
have
always
seen
him
in
a
humorous
way.
To
see
him
as
this
serious
game
master…

The
show
is
about

dhoka.

You
have
to
murder
someone
to
win.

I
also
wanted
to
be
on
the
same
screen
as
Lakshmi
Manchu
because
my
wife
acted
with
her.