Veteran actor Dalip Tahil may have been eliminated early from The Traitors Season 2, but he has hinted that his stint on the reality show might not be over. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the 73-year-old actor reflected on his unpredictable experience and suggested that viewers may not have seen the last of him. Known for embracing unconventional choices and taking risks, Tahil said the show offered an experience unlike anything he had encountered during his nearly 50-year career.
The Baazigar actor discussed the eviction challenge, where he found himself without much support. He acknowledged that several contestants already knew one another and were naturally inclined to back their existing friends.
“There are groups, there are people who know each other from before, so they will support each other. So that’s only natural, and that’s completely expected,” he said.
Although he was eliminated before he could fully find his footing in the game, Tahil remained tight-lipped about what could happen next, including the possibility of a comeback. “All I am going to say is that I am not done yet,” he said with a laugh.
‘There was no certainty’
After spending almost five decades working with scripts, The Traitors 2 presented Tahil with a completely different challenge. For him, the unpredictability was one of the show's biggest attractions.
“All my life I have been following a script. Someone tells me the dialogue, they say what the scene is. I know how the movie is going to end. I know everything about the film. But here, there was no certainty,” he said.
He described having to deal with constant betrayals as one of the toughest experiences he had faced as an actor.
Dalip Tahil on Gen Z
Another aspect of the show that fascinated Tahil was its mix of generations. The youngest contestant, content creator Prish, is almost 50 years younger than him. Tahil said interacting with people from different age groups was among the most enjoyable parts of the experience.
“That’s the fun of the show, that I’m in the company of people from different generations and it is watched by different generations. It's amazing and fantastic,” he said.
The actor also admitted that he was envious of the opportunities available to Gen Z, particularly because of modern technology and social media.
“I feel very jealous of Gen Z. I mean, I was also in my 20s at one stage, but we didn’t have the technology, the tools. Today, I am so amazed at the power of Gen Z for whatever it is to make their voice heard,” he said.
Social media has changed the industry
According to Tahil, social media has fundamentally transformed the entertainment industry. When he started his career, actors largely depended on the traditional film industry for opportunities. Today, creators with different skills can build audiences independently.
“It gives the opportunity to people who have different set of skills. You don't necessarily have to be an actor to be good,” he said, pointing to pianists, stand-up comedians and influencers as examples of people who can now reach audiences directly.
Tahil's own social media presence has unexpectedly attracted a younger audience. He said connecting with Gen Z was never part of a specific strategy and credited his team for some of the ideas behind his content, while emphasising that the primary aim was to have fun.
‘Bad guys can be funny’
Tahil also joked that his experience playing villains had helped him develop a particular understanding of humour. He said he has long believed that intimidating characters can also be funny.
“Conceptually, I have always believed that bad guys can be funny guys because I have known some of the real bad guys in the movies and they have a terrific sense of humour,” he said.
The actor admitted that he was pleasantly surprised by his sudden popularity among Gen Z audiences.
“Of course, I was pleasantly surprised that suddenly I became popular with Gen Z most unexpectedly, but I love it,” he added with a laugh.
Hosted by Karan Johar, The Traitors 2 streams on Prime Video, with new episodes released every Thursday.
