A deleted scene released by Amazon Prime Video has reignited debate over a designer dress dispute among contestants on The Traitors Season 2.
Amazon Prime Video released a deleted scene from The Traitors Season 2 on its official YouTube channel on August 18, 2026, showing contestant Shalini Passi telling fellow competitors that she believes actor Mallika Sherawat's green dress, which Mallika described as a Dolce & Gabbana piece, is not genuine. The clip, filmed inside the mansion where the reality competition is shot, quickly went viral and prompted coverage across Indian entertainment outlets including Mashable India, India Today, DNA and Bollywood Hungama, all reporting on the same date.
The scene did not air during the show's original broadcast and was instead published separately as bonus content, part of a broader release of unseen footage from the season that also included Munawar Faruqui's elimination speech, according to Bollywood Hungama and WerIndia. Its release has added a new layer of attention to Mallika's run on the show, which Mashable India notes has been marked by her repeatedly highlighting the designer outfits she wears as a contestant.
What Shalini Passi Alleged in the Deleted Clip
In the footage, Shalini is seen in conversation with co-contestants Shweta Tiwari, Rhea Chakraborty and Rida Tharana, questioning Mallika's claim that her green dress came from Dolce & Gabbana. According to quotes reported consistently by Mashable India, India Today and Amar Ujala, Shalini says she recently wore an authentic green-and-gold Dolce & Gabbana dress and that Mallika's outfit does not match its quality or style.
Shalini goes further, claiming she noticed the brand label while adjusting Mallika's microphone and concluded it was not a genuine Dolce & Gabbana piece. She is quoted saying, in a Hindi-English mix reported across multiple outlets, that she went to fix Mallika's mic, saw the brand tag, and determined that it was not Dolce, adding that Mallika was lying about the outfit's origin.
To bolster her credibility on designer fashion, Shalini references her own long history with luxury labels, stating she has worn such brands since she was 17 or 18 years old, including custom-made pieces. She also name-checks other high-end designers, saying she has worn Versace couture and an Elie Saab dress, and that Mallika's outfit does not resemble those either.
The Scene's Tone and Group Dynamics
Descriptions of the clip from Times Now and DNA characterize the exchange as back-channel gossip rather than a direct confrontation. The four women are described as huddled together in one corner of the palace-like set, exchanging skeptical looks while discussing Mallika's claim out of her earshot.
DNA reports that Shalini and the others appeared to scrutinize whether the dress reflected the signature style, fit and finish typically associated with genuine high-fashion garments. Mallika is not shown responding to the allegation within the deleted scene itself, and no outlet has reported her reacting to Shalini's specific claims since the clip's release.
Distinguishing Confirmed Facts From Unverified Allegations
What can be confirmed is that Mallika verbally described her green dress as a Dolce & Gabbana piece during filming, and that Shalini's comments questioning this claim appear in a deleted scene distributed by Amazon Prime Video's YouTube channel. The clip's virality and subsequent media coverage are also verified, with multiple outlets publishing near-identical quotes from the scene on August 18, 2026.
However, Shalini's assertion that the dress is fake remains an unverified allegation based solely on her personal observation of a label and her own fashion expertise. No independent confirmation has come from Dolce & Gabbana, the show's wardrobe department, or Amazon Prime Video regarding the dress's authenticity. Mallika has not publicly presented documentation, such as a receipt or a clearer view of the label, to counter the claim, and no formal statement from her addressing the matter has been reported.
Public Reaction and Online Backlash
The clip's release triggered significant social media commentary, though much of the backlash has turned against Shalini rather than Mallika. DNA reports that netizens accused Shalini, Rhea Chakraborty and Shweta Tiwari of "back-bitching" Mallika and labeled them "mohalle ki auntiyan," a colloquial term roughly translating to neighborhood gossips, for discussing the dress behind her back.
Times Now's coverage similarly frames the online response as divided, with some viewers amused by Shalini's confident fashion policing and others critical of the group's tone toward Mallika. Overall, entertainment outlets have treated the episode as light reality-television drama rather than a substantiated fraud allegation, with the dispute adding to what India Today describes as Mallika's ongoing run of attention-grabbing moments on The Traitors Season 2.
