Cinema VinesMunawar Faruqui, the former Lock Upp champion and Bigg Boss 17 winner, made headlines when he was evicted in the first circle of the new Amazon Prime Video reality show, The Traitors Season 2. The Hindi‑language series, hosted by Karan Johar, pits celebrity contestants against each other in a game of deception, with the goal of uncovering a hidden traitor among them. Faruqui’s exit came as a shock to fans who had expected him to be a top contender, given his track record of strategic gameplay.
According to an exclusive interview with the Hindustan Times, Faruqui revealed that he was deliberately targeted by his fellow housemates. He said that even though everyone knew he was not the traitor after the first day’s events, the contestants still voted for him to secure his early removal. “I was playing the game to catch the traitor with everyone,” he told reporters. “Even though everyone knew I am not the traitor, they still gave my name just to get me out… I was really upset, I found it really bad.”
During the show, Karan Johar asked Faruqui to declare whether he was an “innocent” or a “traitor.” The comedian appeared visibly emotional, explaining that his actions on the first day had already shown his loyalty. “Everyone knew that I was not the traitor after what happened on the first day,” he said. “I was trying not to give any wrong name on that day. That is why I was working hard to get to the traitor.”
After Faruqui’s elimination, episode three saw other contestants debating why his name had been singled out. Parul Gulati, Ranveer Brar, and Rhea Chakraborty criticized what they called a “herd mentality” that led to his “surgical strike.” The group’s collective decision to vote him out was described as a coordinated move to remove a strong player early in the game.
Despite the backlash, Faruqui maintained a calm stance. “I defended myself as much as I could,” he said. “But that did not work in my favour. I am bigger than that.” He added that the game’s structure means only one contestant can win, and that he was simply part of the process. The show’s remaining contestants after episode three include Aaditya Kulshreshth (Kullu), Abhishek Malhan (Fukraa Insaan), Ansh Chopra, Ikka Singh, Krystle D’Souza, Mallika Sherawat, Parul Gulati, Prish, and Ranveer Brar. Rhea Chakraborty, Rida Tharana, Sahil Salathia, Shahneel Gill, Shalini Passi, Shweta Tiwari, and Tanya Puri have so far been saved. New episodes of The Traitors will air every Thursday on Amazon Prime Video.
