Oct 10, 2026 12:30pm IST
Teja Sajja on Hosting ‘The Traitors Telugu’ and Taking Notes From Karan Johar, Salman Khan and Nagarjuna (EXCLUSIVE)
After exploring the zombie genre with “Zombie Reddy” and the superhero space with “Hanu-Man,” Teja Sajja is stepping into another new territory, reality television. The actor is set to host “The Traitors Telugu,” the Telugu adaptation of the reality show that revolves around deception, strategy and trust. Sajja says the decision to take on the show was driven by his enthusiasm for the format and his interest in bringing something different to Telugu audiences.
In an exclusive conversation with Variety India, the actor opens up about his approach to hosting, the growing popularity of captive reality shows and the traits he admires in some of India’s best-known television hosts.
Saying yes to “Traitors Telugu”
The actor draws a parallel between his decision to host the reality show and his film choices, which have seen him venture into relatively unexplored genres in Telugu cinema. “I love the format. I am always excited to bring something new to Telugu audiences. That’s a blessing and a privilege. In fact, with my earlier films, we were the first ones in Telugu to do a zombie (“Zombie Reddy”) film or a superhero (“Hanu-Man”) film,” he shares.
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Actors hosting captive reality shows
With actors increasingly taking on hosting duties, Teja Sajja believes the format itself is a significant reason for reality television’s growing appeal. He says, “The trend has always been there. Right now, captive reality is picking up across India. It is doing fantastic. Everybody is interested in the drama and the chaos. I’m sure “Traitors Telugu” will also have a great run.”
Salman Khan’s influence as a reality show host
Salman Khan’s appearances on “Bigg Boss” frequently become talking points on social media. However, Teja Sajja is quick to distinguish his own role on “The Traitors Telugu” from the kind of hosting associated with the Hindi reality show. “I am not of the stature of Salman (Khan) sir to steer a conversation on social media. I am actually playing a character on “The Traitors Telugu” as well. I am not being myself. I am not a stern person. I had to be really strict and put up a mask to come off as serious. This has to be done so that the contestants don’t take the game lightly,” he explains.
The distinction also lies in how the host participates in the show’s narrative. He says, “In a format like this, I don’t drive a narrative (as opposed to a format like “Bigg Boss”). I don’t give my take on who is right and who is not. In “Bigg Boss,” something happens over five days and you respond to it as an anchor. In “Traitors Telugu,” I’m actively a part of the entire narrative. I’m leading the contestants.”
Hosting traits to borrow from Karan Johar, Nagarjuna, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan
The actor has a list of qualities he wants to draw inspiration from as he finds his footing as a host. From Karan Johar’s ability to bring prominent guests to his shows to Nagarjuna’s ease in front of the camera, each offers a different lesson. “Like Karan (Johar) sir, who also hosts “Koffee With Karan,” I would like to bring big guests on my show. I would like to steal Nagarjuna sir’s charm. The way he casually pulls off a very big episode (“Bigg Boss Telugu”) for two to three months in a row is commendable. Amitabh Bachchan sir brings in a lot of gravitas with one look and a glance. That’s not even close to where I am right now. I like Salman sir’s personality in “Bigg Boss.” He helps make the show a bigger platform. His conversations become viral on social media,” the “Hanu-Man” star states.
Conversation with Karan Johar before ‘The Traitors Telugu’
Although Johar didn’t give him specific advice before he took on the hosting role, Teja Sajja says the filmmaker was enthusiastic about the format and the show’s scale. “He loves the show. He loves the format. He told me it’s a very big show and a fantastic format altogether. He also congratulated me once the announcement was made,” he adds.
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