Rhea Chakraborty Reflects on Public Backlash, Says She Never Wanted to Play Traitor on Reality Show

Mumbai, August 21, 2026; Actor Rhea Chakraborty has spoken candidly about the intense public scrutiny she has faced in recent years while participating in the second season of the reality show The Traitors.

During the latest episode, Rhea explained why she was uncomfortable with the possibility of being selected as one of the show’s traitors. Responding to a question from fellow contestant Shweta Tiwari, she said the role carried a personal association because of how she has been perceived in the aftermath of events surrounding actor Sushant Singh Rajput‘s death.

Rhea said she preferred to remain an innocent contestant rather than deliberately take on a character that could further fuel online speculation and criticism. She also expressed concern that her participation as a traitor could become material for social media memes and renewed trolling.

Speaking about her experience with public attention, the actor described herself as one of the country‘s most heavily trolled personalities. She maintained that she does not simply follow popular opinion and believes her ability to remain independent-minded could influence the dynamics inside the reality show.

Rhea also recalled an earlier conversation with host Karan Johar, during which she had clearly chosen the role of an innocent. She linked that preference to the prolonged period in which she remained under public and investigative scrutiny following Rajput’s death in 2020.

The actor said that after spending years facing suspicion, she did not want to recreate a similar experience through a reality television role.

Rhea has remained in the competition following the latest episode, while Parul Gulati was eliminated. Krystle D’Souza and Shahneel Gill continue to play the traitors, while Harman Singha was previously exposed and removed from the game.

Rhea’s participation in the show marks another prominent television appearance after a period in which her personal life received extensive media attention. She and her brother were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a drug-related case following Rajput’s death. The Central Bureau of Investigation subsequently submitted a closure report in its investigation into Rajput’s death.

With her return to the entertainment spotlight, Rhea’s comments on The Traitors have once again drawn attention to the lasting impact of public scrutiny and online trolling on her life and career.