Anshula Kapoor, entrepreneur and popular participant on Prime Video’s reality series 'The Traitors', has spoken candidly about her distressing experience on the show. The reality competition, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, brings together 20 celebrity contestants in a game of deceit and strategy. But behind the camera, the atmosphere has allegedly left several contestants grappling with emotional and psychological aftereffects—Kapoor being one of the most vocal among them.
Anshula on life inside 'The Traitors' house
In a conversation with The Quint, Anshula described the experience as extremely difficult and mentally taxing. She admitted that the isolation was brutal, saying, “Living without communication with the outside world for the entire duration of the show was extremely difficult.”
She claimed that the format she signed up for was not what ultimately unfolded, and went on to call the show “stressful” and “traumatising.” The controlled environment, according to Kapoor, included blacked-out room numbers, no intercoms, and wind chimes installed to monitor unauthorized room exits.
Anshula disclosed that contestants were intentionally kept in the dark about each other’s identities. Speaking about the show's high level of secrecy, she recalled, “We weren’t told who our fellow participants would be... even during the check-in process at the airport, we were given different slots.” She added that participants were split between hotels and stripped of their electronic devices upon arrival.
“Not just phones, all the electronic equipment—they were taking it all,” she said. The goal, she believes, was to prevent any pre-show bonding or alliances.
Post-Show Fallout: Therapy and PTSD Diagnosis
The psychological impact of the show has been long-lasting. “I had to go back into intensive therapy after the show, and I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” she shared. She clarified that she had not been diagnosed with PTSD before joining the series.
Kapoor also hinted that she isn’t the only contestant struggling with post-show mental health issues, suggesting wider implications about the show's production methods.
Despite each episode being about an hour long, Anshula revealed they filmed for 16–18 hours daily. The Traitors premiered on June 12, with the finale airing on July 3. Prime Video has already confirmed Season 2.