Watch: Teja Sajja Reveals Challenges of His Traitors Journey

Teja Sajja is now stepping into a new space with The Traitors Telugu, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on October 15. Ahead of the show’s release, the actor opened up about what attracted him to the reality show and why he was excited to explore a format that is popular across the world.

Teja revealed that he watched the Hindi version hosted by Karan Johar on OTT and ended up completing several episodes within just two days. He was impressed by the format, scale and presentation of the show, which eventually made him interested when the team approached him for the Telugu version.

The actor believes The Traitors is different from regular reality shows because the focus is more on the game than on the contestants’ personal lives. Around 20 participants from different backgrounds enter a palace, where a few are secretly chosen as traitors. The remaining contestants must identify them while trying to survive in the game.

Teja said the suspense of the format was one of its biggest attractions. From the morning announcement of who was eliminated to the tense moments when contestants vote someone out, he enjoyed the experience both as a host and as a viewer. He believes audiences will also connect with the mystery and unexpected twists.

However, hosting the show was not as easy as he initially expected. Teja revealed that he was given several pages of instructions and introductions to deliver without the luxury of retakes. With more than 80 cameras and contestants reacting in real time, the experience pushed him to be more precise and confident on screen.

Interestingly, Teja sees the show as an opportunity to reach audiences beyond theatres. He shared an experience from the United States where people recognised him for Rana Daggubati’s talk show on Amazon rather than his films. That made him realise how OTT and television formats can connect actors with viewers who may not regularly watch their films in theatres.

The Traitors Telugu will premiere with its first three episodes on October 15, followed by new episodes every Thursday. Teja is keeping expectations measured but believes the show offers a fresh format for Telugu audiences. With its mix of suspense, strategy and deception, the actor hopes viewers will give this new experience a chance.