The Traitors: Secrets, shadows, and the game you didn't see behind Karan Johar's reality show

Despite the show's focus on deceit and treachery, the true mysteries surround the making of The Traitors—the newest reality show on Prime Video—which takes place within the majestic Suryagarh Palace. The show featured 20 famous faces and Karan Johar as host, and it used a complex set of regulations to keep everything under wraps and guarantee fair play.

Here’s a breakdown of what went down before filming even began:

Secrecy Was Paramount

An NDA was signed by every individual involved in the study. They were not allowed to talk about their role, the show's structure, or its development. The objective was to ensure that there would be no spoilers for the audience.

Players Were Kept in the Dark—Literally

No one knew who else was competing. Upon entering the palace, they finally encountered their other cast members. To further prevent any potential alliances or pre-show interaction, individuals were even flown in separately.

ALSO READ: The Traitors trailer OUT: Drama gets real with 20 contestants—and Karan Johar is loving every bit of it 

Casting Was Based on Psychology, Not Just Popularity

Numerous interviews and personality tests were administered as part of the selection process. Criteria essential to the game's structure included testing participants' emotional intelligence, stress tolerance, and deceitfulness and manipulation propensities.

No Player Input in Game Setup

The participants could only participate in the game and had no control over its design. Karan Johar and the producers chose the traitors without asking the participants for their input.

Total Isolation Before and During Filming

Upon arrival, players were required to spend a full day in isolation before the start of the game. All communication with the outside world, including phones and other devices, was strictly forbidden. There was a strict no-personal-money-or-devices policy. During their whole run on the show, they maintained no communication.

Separate Accommodation and Strict Monitoring

Despite sharing the same palace, the players intentionally had separate chambers. To avoid any accidental meetings, peepholes were placed in the doors and the rooms were far apart. A crew worker, or "shadow", was assigned to each player and followed them about to prevent any off-camera contact.

No Professional Grooming Allowed

Unlike most reality shows, this one didn't supply the competitors with glam squads. They were responsible for handling their own makeup, hair, and grooming.

Solo Strategy Time

Solo strategy sessions were the sole option for players. All they got was a rulebook, some notepads, images of other contenders, and that was it. The goal of this configuration is to maximise player agency in the absence of outside interference.

The Game Begins

The Traitors India, featuring Anshula Kapoor, Apoorva, 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, guarantees a reality show that blends psychological warfare with total unpredictability.

New episodes will be available on Prime Video every Thursday at 8 PM, starting today with the debut.