Apoorva Mukhija is popular on social media, especially for her several humorous videos and is referred to as ‘The Rebel Kid.’ She began posting on social media from her college hostel at the age of 18, has collaborated with more than 60 firms, including OnePlus, Netflix, Google, Amazon and Meta, and she claims to have reached over 10 million people per month.
She became well-known for her unrestrained, daring criticism of young culture and social conventions, and she is most recognised for her viral videos on YouTube and Instagram. Mukhija’s name was included in Forbes India's 2023 Digital Stars list, and her growing fame in India's online entertainment sector contributed to this inclusion.
Table of Contents
Childhood and Schooling
Native to India, Apoorva Mukhija studied a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from Manipal University, Jaipur. She actively engaged in creative endeavors and digital storytelling prior to being well-known online, progressively establishing her reputation as "The Rebel Kid."
Career
Short-form video material that immediately connected with a younger audience was Mukhija's first social media post. Her character, The Rebel Kid, is well-known for its candid, funny, and frequently contentious observations about Indian relationships, society, and online culture.
Some key points of her academic career:
- She began working for a private corporation in January 2021 as a web development intern at the Sparks Foundation in Singapore.
- Between April and July 2021, she worked as a marketing intern for an online video app named MX TakaTak.
- From May 2021 until June 2021, she was employed as a full-stack developer at CodeMath in Gurugram.
- From December 2021 to February 2022, The Rebel Kid worked as a social media marketing intern for Swiggy Dineout
- Dell Technologies hired her as an associate sales engineer analyst in February 2022.
- This year, she appeared in The Traitors India, a Hindi TV series.
Shows
- During her 2023 appearance, she portrayed Akshata Mesharam in the Hindi television serial Who’s Your Gynac?
- In 2025, she made an appearance on an episode of the Hindi talent show “India’s Got Latent.”
- She appeared in Season 1 of the Hindi online series “Baat Pakki” in 2025.
Overview of Baat Pakki
Together with the gifted Shray Rai Tiwari, Apoorva, also known as The Rebel Kid, makes an intriguing debut in this series, which tells a gripping tale of two very different people navigating love.
The Rebel Kid has a brand-new platform to display her acting abilities and engage with fans in a whole different way, thanks to Baat Pakki. Apoorva (The Rebel Kid) stated in reference to her character that she has always believed in the power of authentic storytelling. Moreover, to her, Baat Paaki was about having a unique narrative over celebrating everything that gets cherished about the weddings in India. According to her, it has been a rewarding experience, and given that this was her first YouTube web show, she couldn’t have wished for a better platform or a more amazing team to make this narrative come to life.
Role in “Who's Your Gynac?”
Akshata Mesharam is portrayed by Apoorva Mukhija in the television series “Who’s Your Gynac?” She is shown chatting with Saba Azad, who in the show portrays gynecologist Dr. Vidushi Kothari.
Role in India's Got Latent
After making an appearance on India’s Got Latent, a YouTube program presented by comedian Samay Raina, she became well-known. Her participation in the show drew both applause and condemnation because of her direct language. Online fans defended and debated her way of expression as the episode became viral and trended on sites like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and X (previously Twitter). That’s how India’s Got Latent news further fueled conversations across digital platforms.
Apoorva Mukhija in Naadaaniyan
The Rebel Kid had a vital supporting role in Nadaaniyan, a Netflix movie released in March 2025 that stars Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. Here, Mukhija played Khushi’s college friend. Released amid the Apoorva Mukhija controversy, she did not appear for the movie’s premiere and promotion.
Similarly, Mukhija did not mention anything about her upcoming movie on Instagram. Some internet users sympathised with her and accused the threateners of destroying her self-confidence. However, considering her acting better than Khushi Kapoor, some fans are ready for her comeback.
Appreciation
Apoorva Mukhija’s ascent as a fearless voice in India’s creative economy was highlighted in 2023 when she was named one of Forbes India’s Top Digital Stars. Also, India’s Got Latent News contributed to her fame. Discussions concerning gender dynamics and online expression in Indian digital media are still sparked by her material.
Besides that, she has received the following awards:
| Year | Category | Award |
|---|---|---|
|
2023 |
– |
Exhibit Award |
|
2024 |
Story Teller of the Year |
Who’s Next Influencer Award |
|
2024 |
Rising Star of the Year |
Entrepreneur India Award |
|
2024 |
– |
Cosmopolitan Blogger Award |
India’s Got Latent and Apoorva Mukhija Controversy
Mukhija’s participation on India’s Got Latent in February 2025 sparked criticism, with some calling her words and manner ‘objectionable.’ Some internet users criticised her for encouraging obscenity, while others supported her freedom of expression and pointed out the unfair treatment of Indian women inventors. This incident quickly became part of the larger Apoorva Mukhija Controversy.
Ranveer Allahbadia asked a participant an objectionable question related to the parents and landed in trouble for his own words. Accused of spreading vulgarity, several FIRs were filed against the participants. This all hit The Rebel Kid hard, resulting in a loss of endorsement deals and participation in the promotion-related events. Her name was reportedly dropped from the list of IIFA Ambassadors list and the list of guests in Rajasthan’s IIFA event.
However, the results of the Apporva Mukhija controversy did not end here. Her DMs were flooded with horrifying threats, reportedly making her cry. Mukhija has shared the screenshots in one of her Instagram posts. She also accused the paparazzi of providing her with a dehumanising experience when she went to the police to record her statement. However, she felt apologetic towards her parents and all those whose sentiments were hurt by her words, as per the reports.
Currently, all her previous posts are deleted, and the Apoorva Mukhija Instagram account contains only 15 posts. One of Apoorva Mukhija Instagram stories hints at her exit from her apartment in Mumbai with a caption ‘End of an Era.’ It was just four months ago that she took her fans on a virtual house tour on Instagram, and now, she appeared in a white dress in her empty house. She has not shared the reason for her exit, but people relate it to the overall Apoorva Mukhija controversy. Moreover, it is not known whether she has only left the house or the whole city.
More Controversies of Apoorva Mukhija
Delhi Technological University held an event called the Under 25 Summit this year, and Mukhija’s attendance created a controversy. Allegedly, she was teased by a group of students by her ex-boyfriend’s name, and she lashed out at them and warned them to break their bones.
The Rebel Kid, Apoorva Mukhija, sparked another controversy after appearing at Sabrina Carpenter’s concert in France in March 2025. It is fine to enjoy and dance in a concert, but The Rebel Kid allegedly went a step ahead. Leading to another Apoorva Mukhija controversy. She was allegedly recording her own music video, kept moving around and didn’t even seem to bother when a guard finally intervened with a flashlight, asking her to sit.
Apoorva Mukhija in Bigg Boss OTT?
After India’s Got Latent news and the overall Apoorva Mukhija controversy, people are eager to watch her in Bigg Boss OTT Season 4. This controversial show will be returning with the new season, for sure, and the team is said to be approaching the celebrities. Moreover, amid the massive Apporva Mukhija controversy, she and Dhanashree Verma have been allegedly approached by the team for participation.
The upcoming season is rumoured to premiere in July and be hosted by Karan Johar, but the participation of Apoorva Mukhija in Bigg Boss OTT 4 has not been confirmed yet.
Apoorva Mukhija’s Comeback
After highlighting the scary threats in one of her Instagram posts, Apoorva Mukhija began sharing regular reels and posts. After India’s Got Latent news and controversy, she reportedly left her house and seems to be having peace in nature’s lap.
One of her reels shows her having her first collaboration in three months, promoting the Dot & Key Skincare, one of the brands that allegedly stood by her through everything. She has reportedly launched an Instagram video series, Finding Happiness Again, with 3 episodes released so far. Accordingly, Apoorva Mukhija Instagram reels show her enjoying the mountains, meeting more people, highlighting more brands and her overall experience on the trip.
Personal Life
Mukhija reportedly has a younger brother, a father who is a government employee and a mother who works as a teacher. Born in Delhi, she later moved to Mumbai. Despite her controversies, Mukhija remains influential and has good earnings from brand collaborations. Some of the high-profile brands include Swiggy, Amazon, Nike and more. Besides that, her appearance in TV shows, TV commercials, movies and fashion shows contributes to her income.
The captions of one of the Apoorva Mukhija Instagram reels indicate Ayush Wadhwa, a storyteller, entrepreneur and the co-founder of Owled Media Inc., as her inspiration and the biggest cheerleader in the game of life. She admits that part of her internet approach is blurring the boundaries between authenticity and parody in her online presence. However, a part of her unique style has been mentioned in India’s Got Latent news. Apoorva Mukhija Controversy has also brought even more attention to her evolving presence in the digital world.
Currently, in 2025, she seems to have a peaceful time despite having a downfall, and she shares her travel videos on social media. She is a freethinking youngster, a youthful, vibrant and bold person who has made a name for herself in the digital world. The transformation of Apoorva Mukhija from a tech-smart student to a well-known social media star is the result of her determination. Moreover, more opportunities like Nadaaniyan can help her rise in the film industry.
