EXCLUSIVE: Sudhanshu Pandey Calls Reality Shows ‘Dirty, Ugly And Full Of Notorious, Abusive People’; Reveals Why He FINALLY Said Yes To Participating In One

After a successful modelling career, Sudhanshu Pandey made his television debut in 1999 and soon entered films with Khiladi 420. He gained popularity as a member of India’s first boy band, A Band of Boys, and later transitioned into Tamil cinema. Known for his role in Anupamaa (2020–2024), and recently appeared in The Traitors India (2025). In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Sudhanshu Pandey revealed why he has never been a part of any reality TV shows besides Khatron Ke Khiladi.

Sudhanshu Pandey Reveals Why He Said Yes To The Traitors India

When asked why he said yes to doing The Traitors India(2025), Sudhanshu Pandey said, “So for me, this was my first attempt at a reality show. It was the first time I entered that space. When I got a call from them, obviously, I had a lot of reservations, because the reality shows that are most popular in our country are not spaces where I could ever see myself. I couldn’t be a part of something like that. Which is why I have never been involved in any reality show before. And not something like Khatron Ke Khiladi, because that’s a competition—it’s a good space to be in. But the other reality shows, where people are put together in one space—I know those formats.”

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He added, “So when this came to me, the first question I asked was, ‘Is this anything like Bigg Boss? If so, consider this a no.’ But they convinced me that it wasn’t. They explained the entire format to me and told me that it’s an award-winning format, number one in over 30 countries, and it’s a European concept. It’s a very niche kind of concept. They said they would also get very niche participants—it wouldn’t be like the other game shows you’ve seen.”

Concluding, the actor said, “They told me there would be people from different walks of life—an advocate, an army officer, a doctor—people from various fields. So they assured me that it would be classy and well-curated. And it turned out to be exactly that—to a great extent, at least. I’m happy about it. And I didn’t enter that reality space as an actor—I entered it as Sudhanshu Pandey, just being myself.”

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Sudhanshu Opens Up On Reservations About Reality TV Shows

When asked why he has been reserved about doing reality TV shows, Sudhanshu Pandey answered, “Off whatever I have seen, the reality shows where people are put into a space… They are very dirty spaces. They are very ugly because they are… I have only seen very notorious, abusive people in such shows. And it’s all about putting each other down. And there’s so much negativity in that space. You know, there’s already so much negativity in the world — there’s so much war happening all across the globe, and there’s so much negative energy all around. Why would you put yourself in an even worse situation just to be… They’re in front of the camera? Or to get some followers who don’t even mean anything?”

Watch The Full Interview

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Sudhanshu Pandey SLAMS ‘The Rebel Kid’ Apoorva Mukhija’s For Abusing On Reality TV Show; Says, “Whether It’s Gen Z, Gen X Or Gen Y…”

Neola Dsouza

With a deep-rooted passion for all things entertainment, Neola Dsouza is a 25-year-old entertainment Enthusiast at Bollywood Bubble. She brings a sharp eye for detail and a genuine enthusiasm for cinema. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling stories, and delivering insightful coverage of the entertainment world. She has previously worked in public relations and was part of the editorial team at Miss Malini, further honing her skills in content creation.