Brace yourself for mind games, betrayal, and intense strategy, as Karan Johar steps into the role of host for The Traitors — the Indian spin on the globally celebrated reality show. Dropping on Prime Video starting June 12, the series will release three brand-new episodes every Thursday at 8:00 PM, all building up to an electrifying finale.
At the trailer launch event, Johar didn’t hold back his excitement — and exhaustion — about the high-stakes psychological game show that brings together 20 well-known celebrities in a house of secrets, suspicion, and strategy.“This was a show where I had to play the disciplinarian — almost like a principal. Not only did I have to follow the format, which I believe is the best reality show format to ever exist, but I also had to maintain emotional balance. And that was tough.”
He added with a laugh:“Sometimes, you just want to scream at people because they’re being completely neurotic — not reading the room at all. But that’s the beauty of the game. It messes with your head. It’s like a relentless thriller — I’d go back to my room with sleepless nights, wondering what was going to happen the next day.”
Talking directly to the viewers, Karan made it clear: this isn’t your typical shout-fest reality show.“You’ve seen other reality shows — and yes, there’s a lot of yelling and drama there. While some of that is still here, this one requires serious brainpower. It’s a show where even the players don’t know what their next move is. It’s a perfect blend of a thriller and a murder mystery.”
He broke down the game mechanics for the audience:“There are 20 players. Among them, 3 are ‘traitors.’ Mathematically, 17 are innocent. Every day, these traitors must pretend to be innocent — while the innocents try to figure out who’s lying. It’s a psychological war.”
Reflecting on the emotional toll, Karan got candid “Trust is rare. Betrayal is everywhere. You can’t trust anyone. I’ve seen friendships break. Hearts shatter. Real emotions come out. You forget you’re even on a show — it feels personal. That’s what makes this a true roller-coaster ride.”
He wrapped up by teasing the format:“Every Thursday, three episodes will drop on Prime Video. And believe me — you’ll be left craving more. You’re going to be hooked. You’ll need the next episode. That suspense... that longing... it’s real.”
The show gathers a dynamic mix of 20 well-known faces — from actors and influencers to musicians and creators. Among them are Anshula Kapoor, Apoorva Mukhija, Ashish Vidyarthi, Elnaaz Nourouzi, Harsh Gujral, Jannat Zubair, Janvi Gaur, Jasmine Bhasin, Karan Kundrra, Lakshmi Manchu, Maheep Kapoor, Mukesh Chhabra, Nikita Luther, Purav Jha, Raftaar, Raj Kundra, Sahil Salathia, Sudhanshu Pandey, Sufi Motiwala, and Uorfi Javed.
Set in an atmosphere charged with suspicion and secrets, these celebrities will navigate alliances, uncover hidden identities, and try to outsmart one another in a high-stakes game where trust is rare and betrayal is always lurking.