Gauahar Khan Slams Kushal Tandon’s Remark, Backs Zaid Darbar Amid ‘Alliance’ Controversy

Actor Gauahar Khan has reacted to the controversy surrounding a remark made by her former boyfriend Kushal Tandon on the reality show Alliance, extending her support to husband Zaid Darbar through a series of posts on social media. Her response comes after a clip from the show went viral, with several viewers interpreting Kushal’s comment as an indirect reference to his past relationship with Gauahar.

The incident occurred during a conversation between Kushal Tandon, Zaid Darbar and fellow contestants on Alliance. While chatting in the house, Zaid reportedly mentioned that he had asked Kushal for a cigarette because the ones he had were not good. Responding to the comment, Kushal joked that Zaid always seemed to like his belongings. The remark was widely interpreted by viewers as a reference to Gauahar Khan, who dated Kushal before marrying Zaid.

The exchange drew immediate reactions from contestants. Mini Mathur appeared surprised by the comment, while Arslan Goni asked the two not to make such remarks on the show. Kushal responded by saying that it was intended as a joke. Despite the clarification, the clip spread rapidly across social media, where many users criticised the remark and questioned its appropriateness.

Reacting to the controversy, Gauahar Khan shared a message on her Instagram Stories that read, “The more secure you are, the less you take offence.” She accompanied it with a caption stating, “Not every ignorant thing needs a knee-jerk reaction. The wise know to do better. Proud of you @zaid_darbar.” In another post, she praised her husband and described his performance on the reality show as a “killer performance with 0 insecurities.”

Gauahar’s posts were seen as a show of support for Zaid, who had also come under scrutiny online after the clip surfaced. Several social media users criticised him for not objecting to Kushal’s comment during the conversation, while others defended his decision not to escalate the situation inside the reality show.

The latest controversy follows another recent instance in which Gauahar publicly defended Zaid during Alliance. Earlier, she had criticised fellow contestant Nikhil Chinapa, accusing him of creating misunderstandings between Zaid and Kushal inside the game. At the time, she maintained that Zaid was being unfairly portrayed and expressed confidence in his conduct throughout the competition.

Kushal Tandon and Gauahar Khan began dating after meeting on Bigg Boss 7 in 2013. The two ended their relationship the following year. Gauahar later married choreographer and content creator Zaid Darbar in December 2020. The couple are parents to two sons and have frequently shared glimpses of their family life on social media.

Hosted by Kunal Kemmu, Alliance is a strategy-based reality show that features celebrities competing through shifting alliances, challenges and eliminations.