Cinema VinesIn a recent episode of the popular Indian reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, four contestants were subjected to a controversial stunt that involved being fired upon with rubber bullets. The task, dubbed a “pain auction,” was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, and sparked immediate backlash online as viewers questioned the ethics of the show’s producers.
The participants—Shagun Sharma, Gaurav Khanna, Vishal Aditya, and Karan Wahi—stood with their backs to a man dressed in camouflage who held a gun. Host Rohit Shetty explained that the contestants would be hit with rubber bullets until two of them withdrew, thereby triggering an elimination. The four contestants received only spine protectors and a sleeveless vest, which proved insufficient as the shooter fired from a decreasing distance, sometimes unleashing multiple bullets at once.
Shagun was the first to break down and leave the task, followed closely by Gaurav. Vishal and Karan remained on the field until the end, each reportedly sustaining around forty pellets of rubber bullet impact. The injuries were visible on their backs, prompting the contestants to express shock and discomfort during the live broadcast.
After the episode aired, Shagun posted footage on Instagram, stating, “I know what it looked like from outside. Still healing from what it felt like from inside.” She also criticized the stunt on the show, calling it “not good at all.” Gaurav shared a clip of his wounds and wrote, “Thanks @orry for making this. I could still feel this pain watching it on tv. Most painful experience ever. All 4 of us went through this guys…still have these marks #darrkanayadaur #kkk15.”
Social media users flooded the comments with disbelief, with one user asking, “Isn’t it torture rather than a task?” and another remarking, “Kya paagalpan hai ye (What is this insanity?)”. Some viewers even mistook the rubber bullets for actual pellets, reflecting confusion over the nature of the weapon used. The incident has reignited discussions about the safety protocols on reality television and the fine line between entertainment and exploitation.
