Sudhanshu Pandey SLAMS Apoorva Mukhija for comments on Ashish Vidyarthi: 'Bachpan ka dost hai kya?'

Amazon Prime Video's reality show The Traitors has quickly gained attention for its intense gameplay and interpersonal dynamics. The show, which brings together a group of celebrities to participate in a strategic battle between “Traitors” and “Innocents,” has also stirred controversy off-screen.

In a recent episode of the popular reality show The Traitors India, a remark made by digital influencer Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has sparked criticism from veteran actor Sudhanshu Pandey, her fellow contestant on the show. The controversy began when Apoorva was seen referring to seasoned actor Ashish Vidyarthi by name during a conversation with another contestant. She was heard saying, “Mujhe lagta hai Ashish jayega.''

This did not sit well with Sudhanshu Pandey, who later addressed the incident during a candid Instagram Live session. Sharing his discomfort over what he perceived as a lack of basic respect toward a senior figure in the industry, Sudhanshu did not hold back.

He said, “Apoorva, jo rebel kid ke naam se mashoor hai, jab aapki zubaan kharab hojaye na, toh woh sab kharab kar deti hai. Everything else goes for a toss about what to say and when to say about people who are at least senior to you because Ashish bhai, Ashish Vidyarthi jo hai, woh itne senior actor hai, woh mujhse bhi jyada senior hai.''

“Toh Ashish bhai ko woh peeche kisi se baat kar rahi thi and she was saying, ‘mujhe lagta hai Ashish jayega.’ Toh Ashish jayega? Aree Apoorva kya kar rahe ho yaar tumlog? Ashish jayega, tumhare bachpan ka dost hai kya woh? What is this way of talking about people, about actors who are older than your parents also. What does this show, what does this talk about you?”

Toh Ashish bhai ko woh peeche kisi se baat kar rahi thi and she was saying, ‘mujhe lagta hai Ashish jayega.’ Toh Ashish jayega? Aree Apoorva kya kar rahe ho yaar tumlog? Ashish jayega, tumhare bachpan ka dost hai kya woh? What is this way of talking about people, about actors who are older than your parents also.

- Sudhanshu Pandey

Sudhanshu went on to call such casual treatment of industry veterans “not cool” and described it as “the biggest curse on earth.”

Apoorva Mukhija, 23, is known for her bold, Gen Z persona online and rose to prominence during the pandemic with her viral content. The Traitors India marks her foray into reality television, where she competes alongside actors, creators, and public figures from varied backgrounds. While Apoorva has yet to respond publicly to Sudhanshu’s remarks, the moment has already sparked debate online. The incident brings to light a larger conversation about respect, generational divides, and the clash between influencer culture and traditional industry norms.

Pandey also spoke out about the broader issue of respect in the entertainment industry, especially when it comes to public figures making remarks about one another. He said so referring to Harsh Gujral's comment on him and Elnaaz Nourouzi and slammed the comedian for the same. "You cannot just say whatever comes to your mind in the name of humour. It’s about basic respect and manners. Everything cannot and should not be passed off as a joke! People like Harsh Gujral, hailing from the comedy niche, should think 100 times before passing such loose statements about anybody, especially a senior actor," he added.

With tensions brewing inside and outside the show, the coming episodes of The Traitors promise even more drama—both scripted and unscripted.

The Traitors features a diverse cast including Sudhanshu Pandey, Elnaaz Norouzi, Harsh Gujral, Bharti Singh, Karan Kundrra, and others. The format of the show involves a secret few — the “traitors” — trying to eliminate the “faithfuls” without being caught. The social manipulation required for the game has led to intense interactions among contestants, but moments like this have sparked questions about boundaries and appropriateness