In an explosive turn of events on The Traitors India Episode 7, actress Elnaaz Norouzi made the shocking decision to quit the game and walk away with ₹10 lakh. While some viewers saw it as a clever escape just before the spotlight turned on her, others, including her own traitor ally Purav Jha, weren’t impressed. In fact, Purav flat-out called it a “dumb move,” arguing that she bailed when smarter gameplay could have taken her further.
Elnaaz’s exit came during a high-stakes chess task, where players were given the choice between a shield for safety or ₹10 lakh in cash. Though she initially said she’d go for the shield, she ended up taking the money and opting out of the game. What made this decision even more intriguing was that suspicions about her role as a traitor had finally started surfacing among the innocents that very morning. Was it a strategic retreat, or an early surrender?
What makes Elnaaz’s journey fascinating is how she played the “clueless” card for nearly six weeks, portraying someone who didn’t fully grasp the rules of the game. Ironically, this very act of confusion protected her for much of the season. Her “I-don’t-get-it” attitude threw off the radar, and for the longest time, even the sharpest players didn’t suspect her. But as the game tightened and alliances sharpened, that same strategy backfired, pulling her under the lens of suspicion just when it mattered most.
Adding to the drama was the reaction of other players when her identity as a traitor was revealed. Shudhanshu Pandey, Anshula Kapoor, and Sufi, all of whom were visibly shocked—had previously defended her or trusted her deeply. Shudhanshu, in particular, had vouched for her just minutes before the reveal. Their expressions said it all, Elnaaz had genuinely fooled some of the most observant contestants, which is a testament to how brilliantly deceptive her game had actually been, despite its flawed ending.
Purav, who now remains the lone traitor in the game, believes Elnaaz could have played smarter by teaming up with Urfi, someone she already had a soft connection with. Instead of isolating herself, she could have blended into the innocent group with more calculated manipulation, just like Purav has been doing by quietly working with Shudhanshu. By playing under the radar and avoiding any flashy moves, Purav has successfully dodged suspicion, while Elnaaz made herself a target through subtle missteps.Whether Elnaaz’s decision to walk out with money was self-preservation or premature panic, it’s clear she left behind a trail of questions, gasps, and one of the most shocking exits yet. She may have exited with ₹10 lakh, but did she leave with the respect of a true traitor? That’s still up for debate.
