Ashish Vidyarthi breaks silence on controversy with Apoorva Mukhija, says she 'apologised'

Veteran actor Ashish Vidyarthi has finally addressed the controversy that arose during his appearance on the reality show The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar. The show brought together 21 celebrities, including influencer Apoorva Mukhija, also known as Rebel Kid, and actor Sudhanshu Pandey. A comment by Mukhija, where she referred to Vidyarthi by his first name, sparked criticism from Pandey, who publicly questioned her casual approach to addressing senior actors.

In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Vidyarthi explained that his time on the show was a learning experience, especially in understanding younger participants like Mukhija. He noted that interacting with the new generation gave him insights into their communication style and approach to life. According to him, the encounter highlighted the differences between generations while also fostering mutual respect.

Apoorva Mukhija’s Apology and Vidyarthi’s Reaction
Addressing the controversy, Vidyarthi revealed that Mukhija reached out to him to apologise via WhatsApp. He emphasised that he held no grudges, describing her as a person of dignity and integrity. He praised her devotion to her family and advised her to follow her own path despite external pressures to conform. Their conversation also led to plans for a friendly lunch, reinforcing the actor’s view that there were no hard feelings between them.

Vidyarthi said he appreciated Mukhija’s sincerity and clarified that her style of communication is part of her personality. “She does her thing, and I do mine; that’s fine,” he remarked, underlining that the matter had been resolved amicably.

Sudhanshu Pandey’s Criticism
Prior to Vidyarthi’s response, Sudhanshu Pandey had publicly criticised Mukhija for her informal reference to the senior actor. During an Instagram live session, he expressed that addressing older actors casually was disrespectful and reflected poorly on generational norms. Pandey emphasised that even well-intentioned remarks could be misinterpreted when decorum is not observed, particularly towards actors senior to oneself.

The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar, features celebrities divided into two groups—Innocents and Traitors. Contestants engage in challenges and eliminations, with the ultimate goal for the Innocents to expel all Traitors to claim the prize money. The first season was won by Uorfi Javed and Nikita Luther, who played as Innocents, and a second season has already been announced.

Outside of reality TV, Ashish Vidyarthi has been active in films, with recent appearances in the action drama Kill, starring Lakshya, and Fahadh Faasil’s Aavesham, released in 2024.