Sudhanshu Pandey has publicly criticized Apoorva Mukhija, also known as "The Rebel Kid," for what he deemed a disrespectful tone when referring to veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi on the reality show The Traitors. The reality show The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar, premiered on Prime Video on June 12 and involves contestants betraying each other in eliminations to win a grand prize.
Pandey voiced his disapproval in an Instagram video, addressing Apoorva's comment, "Ashish jayega? (Ashish will go?)". He questioned whether Vidyarthi was a "childhood friend" of Mukhija, implying that her tone was inappropriate for addressing a senior actor. Pandey emphasized the importance of respecting seniors and criticized Mukhija's casual tone, suggesting it reflects poorly on the current generation. He stated, "Is this Gen Z? Is this what we think is cool? No, I'm sorry — this is not cool at all". He further added that such behavior is "a curse on our society".
Pandey clarified that his criticism was not meant to vilify Mukhija, acknowledging she might be a "good kid" with a "good heart". However, he stressed that "jab aapki zubaan kharaab ho jaaye na, toh wo sab kuch kharaab kar deti hai (Your tone and words can damage everything)". He believes that regardless of a person's inherent goodness, poor language can overshadow it. In an exclusive interview, Pandey said, "If your language is bad, all your goodness gets overshadowed".
Pandey contrasted Mukhija's behavior with that of his own Gen Z children, stating that they are "extremely respectful to other people". He expressed his disappointment, saying, "It breaks my heart".
Vidyarthi responded to the controversy by stating that the show is a reflection of real life, where one encounters all types of people. He added that some individuals "try to stand out with edgy language" and advised not taking such remarks personally, stating, "Without drama, there's no story".
The controversy has ignited discussions about generational values, respect, and the nature of reality TV. Social media users have largely supported Pandey's stance, praising him for addressing the issue of disrespectful behavior.
Pandey's remarks also touched upon the broader issue of Gen Z's perceived lack of cultural awareness and their pursuit of online attention. He commented on how some members of Gen Z are so consumed by attracting eyeballs that they "forget their origins" and "are not in real life". He feels many are "living a lie," and are a "lost generation". He also addressed leaked chats between Apoorva and Urfi Javed, another contestant, where they discussed the winner of The Traitors.
