Parul Gulati on trusting Munawar Faruqui in The Traitors: 'Honesty in his eyes'
Synopsis
In a game built on deception, Parul Gulati says Munawar Faruqui was the one person she never doubted — and a single kept promise during the Circle of Shaq was all it took. Her candid account offers a rare look at how genuine trust formed inside one of Indian reality television's most suspicion-driven formats.
Key Takeaways
Parul Gulati revealed she trusted Munawar Faruqui on The Traitors because of the honesty she perceived in him from the start.
A specific incident during the Circle of Shaq , where Faruqui kept a promise to name a suspected traitor, was the decisive moment for Gulati.
Gulati described Faruqui as 'like a big brother' and said their bond went beyond game strategy.
The second season of The Traitors featured 21 celebrity contestants from entertainment and digital media.
Gulati is set to star in the period drama Donali , directed by E Niwas and set in Chambal in the 1960s , alongside Divyendu and Barun Sobti .
Actress Parul Gulati has opened up about why she placed her trust in comedian and rapper Munawar Faruqui during the second season of the celebrity reality show The Traitors — a game where misplaced trust can cost a player everything. Gulati, speaking ahead of her appearance alongside Faruqui on Neha and Angad's Double Date, said her faith in him was rooted in something she observed from the very beginning.
What Made Her Believe Him
'There was a sheer honesty in his eyes,' Gulati said. 'Aise show mein aap trust nahi kar sakte ho kisi ko. But he was literally like a big brother to me.' She recalled a specific moment during the game when she asked Faruqui to name a contestant she suspected of being a traitor. 'He told me, ‘If you want me to take that person’s name, I will,’ and he exactly kept his promise during the Circle of Shaq,' she added.
For Gulati, that act of keeping his word was what cemented the bond. 'I feel there are very few people, in the industry or otherwise, who actually keep their promises. He kept his promise, and that is what made me connect with him,' she said.
A Bond Beyond Strategy
Gulati emphasised that her connection with Faruqui was not merely a calculated game move. His consistency throughout the show — honouring commitments even when the stakes were high — transformed what could have been a transactional alliance into something she described as a genuine personal bond. In a format designed to breed suspicion, she said his behaviour stood out as an anomaly.
The Traitors Season 2: The Cast
The second season of The Traitors launched with 21 celebrity contestants drawn from entertainment, comedy, and digital media. The lineup included Aaditya Kulshreshth (Kullu), Abhishek Malhan (Fukraa Insaan), Ansh Chopra, Dalip Tahil, Harman Singha, Ikka Singh, Karan Singh Magic, Krystle D'Souza, Mallika Sherawat, Munawar Faruqui, Parul Gulati, Prish, Ranveer Brar, Rhea Chakraborty, Rida Tharana, Sahil Salathia, Shahneel Gill, Shalini Passi, Shweta Tiwari, Soundous Moufakir, and Tanya Puri.
Parul Gulati's Upcoming Projects
On the work front, Gulati is set to appear in Donali, a period drama directed by E Niwas and set in the rugged landscape of Chambal during the 1960s. The show, shot across Madhya Pradesh, also stars Divyendu, Barun Sobti, Chunky Pandey, and Yashpal Sharma. Gulati previously appeared in P.O.W. - Bandi Yuddh Ke, Selection Day, and Girls Hostel. Beyond acting, she is the founder and CEO of her own hair extensions brand, making her one of the few actor-entrepreneurs in the Indian television space. She made her TV debut in Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kum, playing Bittan opposite Yami Gautam.
Point of View
Which is precisely why Gulati's account is worth noting — it surfaces how promise-keeping, even inside a manufactured game, can cut through strategic noise. That said, the timing of this revelation, ahead of a joint appearance on a celebrity talk show, blurs the line between genuine candour and promotional choreography. The more interesting question the interview leaves unasked is whether Faruqui's promise-keeping was itself a long game — a point the show's format would never resolve cleanly.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Parul Gulati trust Munawar Faruqui on The Traitors?
Parul Gulati said she trusted Munawar Faruqui because she saw honesty in his eyes and because he kept a specific promise during the Circle of Shaq — naming a contestant she suspected was a traitor, exactly as he had agreed to do. She described him as being 'like a big brother' throughout the game.
What is the Circle of Shaq on The Traitors?
The Circle of Shaq is an elimination round within The Traitors format where contestants vote to banish a player they suspect of being a traitor. It is one of the game's highest-stakes moments, where alliances and promises are put to the test.
Who were the contestants on The Traitors Season 2?
The second season featured 21 celebrity players including Munawar Faruqui, Parul Gulati, Mallika Sherawat, Rhea Chakraborty, Shweta Tiwari, Shalini Passi, Ranveer Brar, Dalip Tahil, Krystle D'Souza, and Abhishek Malhan (Fukraa Insaan), among others.
What is Parul Gulati's upcoming project Donali about?
Donali is a period drama set in the rugged Chambal region during the 1960s, directed by E Niwas and shot across Madhya Pradesh. It stars Parul Gulati alongside Divyendu, Barun Sobti, Chunky Pandey, and Yashpal Sharma.
What else is Parul Gulati known for beyond acting?
Beyond her television and film work — which includes P.O.W. - Bandi Yuddh Ke, Selection Day, and Girls Hostel — Parul Gulati is an entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of her own hair extensions brand. She made her TV debut in Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kum opposite Yami Gautam.
