The 50: Hamid Barkzi Opens Up On Competing With Mentor Prince Narula; Says' The Pressure Will Be 100%'

Reality show favourite Hamid Barkzi is returning to television with The 50, where strategy, survival and viewer bets collide. The series brings Hamid face to face with former mentor Prince Narula, turning a past Roadies partnership into a high-pressure contest for both personalities. The format of The 50 stands out in the crowded reality space. Fifty contestants enter one shared arena, while audiences can back a contender and stand to win Rs 50 lakh. With so many players, alliances, rivalries and viewer interest are expected to build quickly.

The 50, Hamid Barkzi and Prince Narula: mentor versus mentee

Prince Narula, a familiar winner across MTV Roadies 12, MTV Splitsvilla 8, Bigg Boss 9 and Nach Baliye 9, now competes directly with Hamid. During Roadies Revolution, Prince guided Hamid, who later also lifted the Splitsvilla 14 trophy, strengthening their mentor-mentee bond.

Speaking to Hindustan Times about sharing the arena with Prince in The 50, Hamid said, "If he's there, it's a moment of pride for me. He was my leader and mentor in Roadies, and now we'll be contestants together. He is extremely passionate about games, just like me. When he plays, he plays to win. So the pressure will be 100 per cent, but at the end of the day, it will be an individual game."

The 50 format, Hamid Barkzi’s strategy and Prince Narula’s game

Hamid reflected on how The 50 differs from Roadies, Splitsvilla and Bigg Boss, stressing the task design. "When I understood the concept, I realised that the tasks here will be very different than that in Roadies and Splitsvilla." The new environment, rules and stakes demand fresh planning from experienced reality contestants.

Managing equations with 49 other contestants also worries Hamid in The 50. "The biggest challenge is that you're playing with 50 people. We'll have to see whether it's better to play individually or as part of an alliance," he added. The comment highlights constant choices between teamwork and self-preservation.

Hamid also compared The 50 directly with Bigg Boss, pointing to scale and conflict. "It has 50 people and a much bigger space than Bigg Boss. But the kalesh will be pro-max because there are 50 people and everyone will have their own opinions." The observation hints at intense discussions and frequent clashes on-screen.

The 50 gathers a wide mix of popular television and reality names alongside Hamid Barkzi and Prince Narula. Confirmed participants include Yuvika Choudhary, Manisha Rani, Nikki Tamboli, Rajat Dalal, Lovekesh Kataria, Karan Patel, Divya Agarwal, Faisal Mallik, Nehal Chudasama, Bebika Dhurve, Shiv Thakare and Arbaz Patel, among others from diverse backgrounds.As The 50 approaches its February 1 launch on Colors TV and JioHotstar, attention centres on the reunion of Hamid Barkzi and Prince Narula. Their shift from Roadies teammates to direct rivals, within a larger group of 50 contestants, forms a key hook for viewers.