Abhishek Malhan On ‘The Traitors’: ‘People With A Large Social Media Following Won’t Participate In The Show As They Are Targeted On The Show’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Abhishek Malhan, better known as ‘Fukra Insaan’, was evicted from “The Traitors” Season 2 within a week of its launch. Despite his early exit, the YouTuber and digital content creator has no regrets. He tells Variety India, “What matters is whether I was entertaining enough. The show has an unusual format, and your survival depends on several factors. I feel this show is not just like chess, it’s like 4D chess, where you make a move and have to manage three other boards simultaneously. The ripple effect is huge.”  

In reality shows, contestants with large social media followings are often perceived as threats and can become early targets. Malhan agrees that this is part of the game and believes it could make digital creators hesitant to participate. He says, “People with a large social media following won’t participate in the show as they get targeted. You cannot have a strong mind or voice on the show. While I was on the show, I made sure I came across as a strong player and was entertaining enough.” Among the other contestants, Malhan feels Mallika Sherawat and Ansh Chopra have the best temperament for “The Traitors”. 

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Malhan reveals that he did not watch the original Dutch format and had only seen a couple of episodes of the first season of the Indian version. Like many contestants, he was impressed by Karan Johar’s hosting. Malhan elaborates, “He is fabulous on the show. The way he maintains that villain persona is excellent. His presence on the show means there’s some bad news. Honestly, I had a different perspective about him before I did this show. But when I went in, I understood what he is up to and what he does. I saw his involvement in it and my respect for him has grown manifold. He is the best fit for this reality series and I hope he stays on as the host forever.”  

With digital creators increasingly becoming a staple of reality television, Malhan sees a bright future for them in the entertainment industry. He says, “I see creators hosting these kinds of series in the next five years. I feel that they will own such formats and make their own shows with original ideas. Maybe someone like Tanmay Bhatt could do it.” 

Does Malhan ever want to explore films and dream of playing the hero? “If Karan sir offers you are going to do a movie, who’s going to say no? (laughs)”