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Mumbai: In an unexpected twist on the new reality show The Traitors, popular TV star Karan Kundrra was suddenly eliminated, leaving fellow contestants and fans in disbelief. The Indian adaptation of the global hit series premiered on June 12 on Amazon Prime Video, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar. Within the first week, four celebrity contestants – Sahil Salathia, Raj Kundra, Lakshmi Manchu, and now Karan Kundrra – have bowed out of the high-stakes game of deception, far earlier than anyone anticipated. Karan’s shock exit has not only rattled viewers but also raised pressing questions about what lies ahead for the show.
About The Traitors: A Game of Trust and Treachery
The Traitors is not a typical friendship-based reality show; it’s a psychological thriller in reality-TV format. 20 celebrity contestants live together in a luxurious heritage setting – the grand Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Among them, a select few are designated as secret “traitors,” while the rest are “faithful” contestants. Each night, the traitors conspire to “murder” (eliminate) one faithful. Each day, the whole group meets at a round-table “Circle of Doubt” to vote out someone they suspect is a traitor.
The catch: if any traitors survive till the end, they win the entire prize pot; if all traitors are identified and banished, the remaining faithful players win. This ruthless format – akin to an elaborate game of Mafia or Among Us – means no one can be trusted and even strong players can be cut down by suspicion and paranoia overnight. New episodes drop every Thursday, and in just the first three episodes, the game’s rapid eliminations have proven The Traitors to be drama, twists and turns galore, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.
The Shocking Elimination: Why Karan Kundrra Was Voted Out
By all accounts, Karan Kundrra entered The Traitors as one of the most prominent contestants – even reportedly the highest-paid participant. His early eviction therefore came as a huge surprise. In Episode 3’s round-table discussion, Karan unexpectedly received 11 votes accusing him of being a traitor, after co-contestant Apoorva Mukhija (aka “The Rebel Kid”) pointed fingers at him. This was immediately after she had successfully exposed another traitor, Raj Kundra – so when she confidently named Karan next, many players blindly trusted her instincts.
During the tense “Circle of Doubt” deliberation, Karan appeared nervous and defensive, which only fueled doubts. As votes piled up against him, Karan was banished from the game. In a cruel twist, it was revealed afterwards that Karan was actually innocent – a faithful rather than a traitor. He essentially became a victim of false suspicion, taken out by the very teammates he was trying to help.
Karan’s ouster followed earlier exits: actor Sahil Salathia was “murdered” by the traitors on Day 1, businessman Raj Kundra (who was a traitor) was voted out next, and actress Lakshmi Manchu was also covertly eliminated by traitors Elnaaz Norouzi and Purav Jha. However, none of those exits jolted the cast or fans nearly as much as Karan Kundrra’s elimination did. His departure, so early in the season, has been described as the most shocking twist yet.
Karan Kundrra’s Reaction: “So Much Happened Before I Could Even Understand the Game”
Leaving the show, Karan maintained grace but couldn’t hide his disappointment. In his parting speech to the group, he said, “I had a blast… While this party is wrapping up early for me, I want everyone to play well… Right from the first minute and first hour, I have been innocent.” This declaration of innocence left many teammates guilt-stricken, knowing they’d ousted someone who wasn’t actually betraying them.
Speaking to the media post-elimination, Karan admitted the game’s fast-paced deceit caught him off guard. “I’m used to a different format… here, so much happened even before I could fully grasp the game.” He expressed that had he survived that round, he might have adjusted and gone far, as “this is a very different kind of game.”
Karan also noted that on shows like Bigg Boss, one gets time to open up and play at a slower pace, whereas The Traitors launched into mind games almost immediately. Indeed, the pressure to lie, spot liars, or be eliminated is intense from Day 1, and Karan became a high-profile casualty of that pressure-cooker environment.
Interestingly, Karan’s long-time girlfriend, actress Tejasswi Prakash, wasn’t shocked by this outcome. Karan revealed that Tejasswi reacted to his early eviction with a bit of told-you-so sass. “Teju said, ‘This trickery and backstabbing – it’s just not your cup of tea.’” She had apparently given him the same warning during Bigg Boss 15 (which she won). Karan laughed about the remark, acknowledging that The Traitors indeed required a cutthroat approach that clashed with his straightforward nature.
Emotional Fallout: Tears on Set and Outrage Online
Inside the show, Karan’s unexpected exit triggered raw emotions among his allies. Actress Jannat Zubair, one of Karan’s closest friends on the show, had an emotional breakdown the moment he left. She was seen sobbing, and later said, “I kept telling everybody I don’t think it’s him… I feel so bad. He was playing so subtly. If it had been anyone other than Karan, I wouldn’t have felt this awful.”
Rapper Raftaar, another contestant, actually teared up as well, recognizing that the group had made a terrible mistake. “We all ended Karan’s game together… we’re all stupid to some extent,” he said. Apoorva “Rebel Kid” Mukhija, whose accusation sealed Karan’s fate, was shocked and upset when he turned out to be faithful. “I was 100% convinced Karan was the traitor… I felt so, so sad when I realized we took out the wrong person,” she said.
Even host Karan Johar looked visibly stunned that evening – losing one of the show’s biggest names so soon was clearly not the plan, and he remarked off-camera that Karan Kundrra’s eviction was “truly unexpected.”
Outside the palace, fans erupted on social media. On Twitter, hashtags like #TheTraitorsOnPrime and #KaranKundrra quickly trended at No.1 in India. Many fans felt Karan was one of the strongest players and should have stayed till the end. Some even slammed the remaining contestants as “foolish” for trusting Apoorva’s instincts blindly. “So upset to see Karan eliminated! But honestly, his impact, even in a short time, was HUGE,” one tweet read.
Memes and reels also flooded Instagram and TikTok – from Game of Thrones-level betrayal jokes to fake “Amazon Prime account cancelled” posts. The TejRan fandom found Tejasswi’s reaction hilarious, proudly sharing that “Queen Teju knew it all along!”
What’s Next for ‘The Traitors’?
Karan Kundrra’s exit has completely shifted the tone of The Traitors. What was expected to be a game dominated by strong personalities is now wide open – players are doubting themselves, the audience is more invested than ever, and the psychological drama is at its peak. The remaining contestants include actress Aditi Sharma, social media stars like Shalin Bhanot and Anusha Dandekar, rapper Raftaar, and model Soundous Moufakir.
Meanwhile, the show is teasing some surprises in upcoming episodes. Wildcard entries are rumored to join – with whispers that reality show veterans or ex-Bigg Boss participants could be brought in mid-season. Karan Johar himself hinted during Episode 4’s teaser, “You think the game is over? It’s just begun.”
There is also speculation that evicted contestants might make a surprise return – either for a twist episode or a “jury-style” finale vote. If Karan Kundrra does return in any format, fans will surely welcome him with open arms.
Why This Matters for Indian Reality Shows
Karan Kundrra’s early exit proves that The Traitors is not just another reality show with predictable eliminations. It reflects a format where even the most seasoned stars are vulnerable – a game that values perception, emotional intelligence, and alliances more than celebrity power.
From an entertainment point of view, his exit has raised the stakes – fans are now even more curious about who the real traitors are, who might go next, and whether justice will be served for “the faithful.”
Note
Whether or not you’re a fan of Karan Kundrra, his short yet impactful journey on The Traitors has left a mark. His elimination has brought emotional drama, controversy, fan outrage, and a sense of unpredictability that is essential for any hit reality show.
As The Traitors continues to drop new episodes every Thursday on Prime Video, viewers will watch more carefully than ever – questioning every eye movement, every vote, and every alliance.
One thing’s for sure: Karan Kundrra may be out of the game, but he’s not out of the spotlight.
Read Also in Hindi: The Traitors’ से Karan Kundrra की चौंकाने वाली विदाई, फैंस रह गए स्तब्ध – अब क्या होगा?
