Elnaz Norouzi, an Iranian-German actress and model known for her roles in “Sacred Games” (as Zoya Mirza), “Kandahar,” and “Tehran,” is a contestant on the Indian version of “The Traitors,” a reality competition series hosted by Karan Johar on Amazon Prime Video. The show features 20 contestants divided into two groups: the Faithfuls and the Traitors. Each night, the Traitors secretly “murder” a Faithful to eliminate them, while the group works together to identify and banish the Traitors in the quest for a cash prize of up to ₹1 crore.
Confirmed Role as a Traitor: In the opening episodes of “The Traitors,” Elnaz Norouzi was secretly selected as one of the initial Traitors, alongside Purav Jha and Raj Kundra, as revealed in episode recaps. Her role involves strategizing to sabotage the Faithfuls while concealing her identity, aligning with the show’s themes of deception and psychological warfare.
Fan Sentiment and Performance: Posts on X show mixed reactions to Elnaz’s gameplay as a Traitor. Some fans, like @PrattayOfficial, praise her unique style and strong presence, considering her a favorite. Others, such as @jannatxparadis1, recognize that she is “playing well” but has drawn suspicion from contestants like Jannat Zubair and Jasmin Bhasin, who guessed her Traitor status early on. Her bold moves, including the early elimination of a player, garnered attention, with @siriuslyswift criticizing others for not immediately suspecting her due to her overt strategy.
Game Impact: Elnaz’s role as a Traitor has been crucial in the early episodes, contributing to eliminations, such as that of Sahil in episode 1. However, her high visibility as a suspect suggests she has become a target, with comments like “Elnaz has already become a target” indicating that her strategy may be too obvious. Reviews of the show critique its pacing and scripted feel, but Elnaz’s confident and charismatic presence is noted as a standout.
Context of The Traitors: “The Traitors India,” filmed at Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer, is a psychological reality show where contestants engage in missions to build a prize fund while navigating themes of trust and betrayal. Elnaz’s background in acting and her multilingual skills (Farsi, German, English, and Hindi) likely enhance her ability to manipulate and strategize, making her a compelling Traitor. However, the show’s slow pacing and perceived lack of authenticity have drawn criticism, potentially affecting how her role is viewed.