Aug 13, 2026 11:45am IST
‘The Traitors’ 2 Review: Mallika Sherawat, Rida Tharana, Krystle D’Souza are Pitch Perfect; Host Karan Johar Returns With Extra Zing
After a successful first season, "The Traitors" is back with a new season. Filmmaker Karan Johar continues as the host, as makers bring in fresh new faces that include some top names like Mallika Sherawat, Rhea Chakraborty, Munawar Faruqui, Shweta Tiwari, Krystle D’Souza, Ranveer Brar to name a few. Minutes into the premiere episode, the show manages to grab the viewer’s attention. The contestants on ‘The Traitors’ 2 are more ruthless, and the tone, more dramatic. The premiere starts with a bit of banter, gameplay, twists and endless suspense that sets up the mood rather well.
The series starts with a cavalcade of cars approaching the venue. Reminiscent of a Rohit Shetty’s masala movie. While the format is inspired by an international show, the treatment is desi. This time, the contestants seem to have come well-prepared as they debate about who is innocent and who is a traitor. One of the most amusing aspects of the reality show is seeing contestants engage in decoding each other’s body language.
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Karan Johar, in his flamboyant self, in demeanor and dressing. From a long jacket embellished with roses to jackets with feathers, he stays true to the decadent setting of the show. The halls, lawns and rooms of the resort seem perfect for the show as contestants endlessly indulge in guessing games. ‘The Traitors’ 2 stands out for its sharp editing and background music.
The mix of contestants this time is interesting. Each of them has a distinct personality, and they are not hesitant to put their worst foot forward. Sherawat highlights her shopping spree for the season while Passi reassures the fellow contestants that she is grounded despite her elite background. Rhea Chakraborty, Shweta Tiwari and Krystle D’Souza - the three ladies - shoot off their mouths, giving reality show addicts their daily dose of drama. Contestants like detective Tanya Puri, magician and mind reader Karan Singh, Prish and Rida Tharana make a solid contribution to the first episode.
Former contestant Sahil Salathia brings in the comic element. Abhishek Malhan, Ikka and Aaditya Kulshreshth steal the show amongst the male contestants. Munawar Faruqui quickly earns the reputation of a manipulator and locks horns with Harman Singha. The makers have designed some innovative physical tasks for the contestants to secure their shields. This combination of physical tasks, plotting and drama is sure to keep the viewers hooked.
Overall, the reality series starts with an impeccably brutal streak with dollops of snarkiness that will make audiences go ‘Whoa!’
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