Purav Jha: 'I went to The Traitors as a villain, but came out as a hero' | Exclusive

Purav Jha has been doing rounds on social media ever since Karan Johar's The Traitors India premiered on Prime Video, and his eviction from the show broke fans' hearts because everyone wanted him to win. He has received a lot of love from fans for becoming one of the important contestants who kept The Traitors India engaging and worth watching. Now that The Traitors India has ended with Uorfi Javed and Nikita Luther emerging as the winners, we had an exclusive chat with Purav, where he discussed everything about the survival game show, behind-the-scenes, and more.

Excerpts from Purav Jha interview...

How was The Traitors India experiece as a whole?

"Honestly, it was like an emotional rollercoaster. I had ups and downs. Sometimes I felt like a killer, sometimes a loser, a villain, an innocent, or sometimes I am dramatic. But The Traitors India did not have only drama like other reality shows. It was full of strategy, mission, and acting. So overall, my experience was mixed and I had a great time and fun."

You were playing with strategy and heart. How did you balance both?

"Seriously, this was the toughest thing for me that people can lie looking at the camera, but to lie looking at someone's eye is very tough. So I think I have done that job really well, so I feel I have this talent of telling lies eye to eye. But my family, friends, and girlfriend are saying that they can't trust me anymore (laughs) because I can be a traitor in real life. So it was tough because I made some close bonds with some contestants in the show, and they were blindly trusting me, and I am an emotional guy and hate to betray people. So from day 1, I had this in mind that I needed to act, but that acting turned into a reality eventually after the 6th, 7th episodes. 

Then I realized that no, this is no fun because there were a few people and everyone started keeping an eye on each other and telling that 'I am not a traitor, I am an innocent.' So that was tough after the 7th episode, as friendships and betrayals became stronger. But as you all saw, I was almost at the finale, so yeah, I am proud of myself (smiles)."

Your eviction broke fans' hearts. So what was going through your mind that day?

Purav emotionally smiled and said, "Genuinely, I did not know what that was. Let me tell you that 10 minutes before the Circle of Shaq, Harsh (Gujral) and me went to the washroom where there were no cameras and we were talking that finally we reached the stage after hardwork and I felt so happy that Harsh and me from Delhi will win the show and Uorfi (Javed) always helped a lot and trusted a lot. And I told Harsh Bhai that we will distribute the prize money among the three of us because I did not care about the money, but to win the show on that platform was important as I worked very hard, and Harsh Bhai agreed too. So I don't know how the table flipped 5-10 minutes before the Circle of Shaq." 

I thought Uorfi made some strategies since two days and observed a lot, and thought of doing something at the finale. But when I saw it, I said, 'Damn. You overheard us?' What kind of strategy is that? It was a civil war going on in the show and she just overheard us and I felt I am such a dumb person. But then I told myself, 'Let it be. You have played well but mistakenly someone just heard the conversation.' But I was speaking so quietly that I could not understand how she overheard. But it's okay, Uorfi has sharp ears. But I feel happy that she did not catch me with any strategy.

What are your thoughts on Nikita Luther winning The Traitors along with Uorfi?

It is totally fair. People are saying that she won it meaninglessly but what was her fault exactly? People could not catch her in the show, so it was not her fault then you did not understand the game at all. Obviously, I deserved it if I were the winner (laughs) but it's okay, it is all fair. It was the traitors vs the innocents, so there is no point in so much toxicity. But Nikita should not flex on applying a lot of strategies because she did not (smiles), so accept that, the audience will accept too.

Speaking about receiving so much love from fans, Purav said, "I could not believe that I came that far in the show. When I opened my DMs, I saw messages, 'why you were eliminated. You deserved to win.' So I got emotional that I am so loved. This is the first time, I saw a flood in my DMs. People were emotionally telling me that I should have won. I seriously did not care about the money. I got messages like, 'For us, Purav Jha is the winner,' so I was like, I went as a villain, but came out as a hero, so let's go."

Also Read: The Traitors India Finale Episode: Winners' names, prize money, and more about Karan Johar's show

What was the most difficult secret mission task as a traitor?

Talking about the murder night where he eliminated Sufi by throwing his photo frame in the fountain, Purav said, "Whoever watched that episode, it was an absolute cinema for them. People were amazed as they sent me DMs, but ask about my condition at that time (laughs). It's not like I murdered someone else but murdered the person who was roaming around with me and that Sufi. During the task, I thought no one should hear the sound of the photo frame getting thrown into the fountain, but the sound of the fountain was really loud, so he could not hear. But it was so tough for me at that time because me, Apoorva, Sufi even cried that night. I did not have an option, so I saw Sufi's photo frame nearby and I was like, I am really sorry, Sufi"

How was Elnaaz Norouzi as a fellow traitor?

She was very good. At the beginning, I was really happy that with Elnaaz, we could easily win the game. But eventually, we were not on the same page because Elnaaz was playing very brutally, 'let's murder that person, let's recruit someone else,' etc. But I did not get that, and for me, it was like the more we play, concentrate on playing as innocents, it would be good for us. In the secret tower, we only write names and murder, but the real game is that no one should doubt you as a traitor. So, as a traitor, Elnaaz was brutal, and we used to have arguments. So I realized either she will fix my fielding or I will fix her's and I saw she started to take my name in front of everyone.

She also said that I have put her under the tree. But I have not done anything; it was she who wrote my name everywhere. I think if she played well, she would have qualified for the finale, but she did not. She never appreciated me for once because the frame throw scene was really impossible, and everyone praised me, but she did not, so it is jealousy. This is why I have problems with reality shows. When I was out of the show, I apologised to Elnaaz for writing her name, but I had no choice but she was firm at her point. It was just a game.

Would you return to The Traitors Season 2?

Honestly, not at all. It was traumatic for me (laughs). Everyone who thinks this game is a cup of cake can give their opinions but those who have played know how we survived in the show. Because we are Internet people and we live on the Internet and we were cut off from the Internet for those 10 days, so we became emotional with each other and everyone had trauma and panic attacks. Since the show was not scripted at all, nobody knew anything and what was going to happen to us the next day. So I won't go to the second season, but whoever will be in the 2nd season will give advice that don't do such things, because I suffered but I have two or three strategies that can help you play the game.

Also Read: The Traitors Season 2 Announced: All you need to know about Karan Johar's game show