The casting director opens up about personal betrayals and parallels between reality TV and the harsh truths of the film industry, calling his elimination from The Traitors a turning point in trust and resilience.
Mumbai, June 24, 2025 — Celebrated casting director and filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra, known for launching and nurturing countless Bollywood talents in films like Dangal, Tamasha, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Dil Bechara, recently found himself at the center of betrayal—not on a film set, but in the cutthroat world of reality TV.
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Participating as a contestant on the hit reality series The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar, Chhabra faced a surprising elimination. But it wasn’t just the game that caught him off-guard—it was the emotional weight the experience carried. In a heartfelt interview with ETimes, Chhabra revealed how the show struck a personal chord.
“One of my biggest takeaways from The Traitors is that you really can’t trust anyone,” he confessed. “Even those you sit, eat, and travel with can turn out to be the ones betraying you.”
A Personal Betrayal Behind the Camera
When asked if such betrayals extended into his real life, Chhabra didn’t flinch. “Yes, many times,” he admitted. The most painful? During the making of Dil Bechara. While away filming, Chhabra had entrusted a casting assistant with managing his company—only to return and discover that the assistant had stolen sensitive data and launched a rival casting agency.
“I had groomed that child myself. It felt like a deep betrayal,” Chhabra said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Ready for a Comeback
Despite the emotional blow, Chhabra remains undeterred. “100%! Now I know how to play the game,” he said with renewed confidence when asked if he’d return as a wildcard entry on The Traitors.
He even had fun suggesting a dream cast for the show’s next season: Jugal Hansraj, Pankaj Tripathi, and Kiara Advani—whom he described as “cheerful faces perfect for playing double agents.”
More Than a Game
For Mukesh Chhabra, The Traitors wasn’t just another reality show. It became a raw, unfiltered mirror to his life in cinema—a world where ambition and betrayal often walk hand-in-hand. His journey is a poignant reminder that whether in the spotlight of entertainment or behind the scenes, trust is fragile—and loyalty can be fleeting.
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