The 50 EXCLUSIVE: Dushyant Kukreja Calls Mr. Faisu His ‘Competition'; Spills If The Show Is 'Scripted'

The 50 Dushyant Kukreja Exclusive: After hits like Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi, Colors TV is all set to introduce a new foreign-inspired reality show to the Indian audience-The 50. Adapted from the popular French series, the show promises to bring together five prominent names from television and the digital world. Even before its premiere, the promos and clippings have already created quite a buzz among fans. Confirmed contestants include popular TV faces like Karan Patel, Shiny Doshi, and Monalisa, alongside digital sensations such as Mr. Faisu (Faisal Shaikh) and Dushyant Kukreja.

Photo Credit:

Instagram/@dushyant.kukreja, @mr_faisu_07

In an exclusive interview with Filmibeat, digital creator and YouTube sensation Dushyant Kukreja, known for his relatable and family-friendly content, spoke candidly ahead of entering The 50 house. He opened up about almost saying no to the show, why he sees Mr. Faisu (Faisal Shaikh) as his biggest competition, and what fans can expect from him inside the house.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

1) You are primarily known as a digital content creator, and reality shows are not something people usually associate you with. How did The 50 happen for you? Also, have you watched the original French version of the show?

I once came across an episode of the original French version on YouTube, and honestly, it felt a bit too violent and brutal for my taste, with elements of nudity as well. The participants also didn't come across as very family-oriented. Because of that, I was initially hesitant to be part of the show. However, the makers of the Indian version later reassured me that The 50 would be completely different. They made it clear that the show would be family-friendly, keeping Indian culture and the sensibilities of the Indian audience in mind, which eventually convinced me to say yes. Initially, I thought the show would only involve physical tasks. But later, I learned that it would also include mind games, similar to what we've seen in shows like Squid Game. There could be games like Ludo, Uno, or even tug of war. Ludo, for instance, is completely luck-based, which means there's no scope for scripting. That's when I felt the show was genuinely fair, and it motivated me to give The 50 a try.

2) You enjoy a massive following across Instagram and YouTube, and your content is largely family-friendly, nothing controversial or sensational. Do you trust your fans enough to believe they'll consistently take time out to support and vote for you on a reality show like this?

When I agreed to do the show, I did so after considering it from my fans' perspective. If I were a newcomer or someone without a platform, I might have accepted anything just to gain name and fame. But I already have that, and for me, it's more important to maintain it and grow responsibly. My audience feels like family to me... they support me because they connect with my content and values. That's why I'm not planning to change my content or who I am after the show. The only difference is that on The 50, everything will be completely natural. My videos are usually planned and scripted to some extent, but inside the show, there's no scripting at all. Whatever people see will be the real me, and I'm confident my fans will support me for that.

3) Among the names revealed so far - Karan Patel, Divya Agarwal, Faisal Shaikh (Faisu), Shiny Doshi, Monalisa, and Vikrant Singh Rajput, among others - who do you think could be your biggest competition?

I know a few of the contestants, but we're not really friends. I'm more excited about discovering who the other participants are-who I might pair up with, who I can move forward with in the game, and how those relationships naturally develop. That unpredictability excites me. If I had to name someone as competition, Mr. Faisal (Faisu) definitely stands out because he has prior experience with reality shows. Similarly, Divya Agarwal is a Bigg Boss OTT Season 1 winner, so she comes with strong credentials. Seeing contestants with such experience did make me pause initially. I don't have that kind of background, and I didn't want to lose my originality by subconsciously following someone else's approach.

My mindset is very different. I want to enter the show with an open mind and react naturally, rather than coming in with a pre-planned or 'scripted' strategy. Experienced reality show contestants often have a certain way of thinking-what to do, what to say-but I want to trust my instincts. I want to communicate openly, interact honestly with the cameras and the audience, and stay true to how I genuinely feel, especially in the initial days. That raw excitement and authenticity matter more to me than playing a calculated game from day one.

4) Once the show airs, you'll inevitably be in the spotlight, headlines, fan support, trolling, and controversies will follow. Are you mentally prepared for that side of reality TV? Also, as a successful content creator, do you ever feel that participating in a reality show puts your career at risk?

I started watching reality shows about two years ago, so I've mentally prepared myself for the attention, trolling, and criticism that come with them. I've learned that reacting to everything only traps you in negativity, so I focus on staying positive. If I ever make a mistake, I'll apologise, but I will never engage in anything related to racism, religion, or politics. I just want to represent humanity and stay true to my values. I don't see reality TV as a risk to my career as long as I remain authentic. Earlier, I was only focused on YouTube, but now I'm more open to exploring reality shows. My family has also been telling me to get married, so I jokingly told them to give me two years to do reality shows first. This phase is about growth, experience, and seeing what life has planned for me next.