From IIT Dreams to Internet Fame: The Polarizing Rise of Apoorva Mukhija

In today’s digitally driven world, success wears many faces. For some, it looks like an engineering degree and a multinational job offer. For others, it’s a smartphone, a ring light, and the courage to challenge societal norms head-on. Apoorva Mukhija, better known to her followers as “The Rebel Kid,” has become one such symbol of unapologetic individuality—and her story has sparked intense debate across the country.

From Kota’s Study Rooms to Instagram’s Spotlight

Apoorva, a young influencer hailing from Kota—a city synonymous with India’s cutthroat academic coaching culture—didn’t follow the “safe” path laid out before her. She didn’t become an engineer, doctor, or bureaucrat. Instead, she became a content creator. And not just any creator—one whose sharp tongue, bold aesthetics, and emotionally raw storytelling have built her a personal brand worth crores.

According to recent reports, her digital empire is now valued at over ₹41 crore, a figure that stunned both fans and critics alike. That kind of success is enough to make anyone pause. But it also brought an uncomfortable wave of commentary from sections of society that still struggle to respect unconventional paths—especially when they’re taken by women.

IITian’s Post Sparks a Firestorm

The conversation took a viral turn when a post by an IITian started circulating online. The post criticized Apoorva’s success, using phrases like “semi-nudes” and “abusing” to belittle her content. It drew a sharp contrast between the life of a hard-working IIT graduate and an influencer who, according to the post, took the “easy way out” by being provocative.

But here’s the thing: The internet isn’t as black-and-white as people like to pretend it is. Apoorva’s content—whether you love it or loathe it—isn’t just about skin or swearing. It’s about storytelling, relatability, and capturing the complexities of modern youth. She shares the heartbreaks, the existential rants, the emotional breakdowns, and yes, sometimes the sass. And her audience? Millions of young people who see a bit of themselves in her rawness.

Why the Backlash?

The real question is: Why does her success bother so many?

Is it because she’s a woman who doesn’t dress “modestly”? Is it because she swears on camera while delivering relatable content? Or is it because she represents a new kind of success that doesn’t fit into the Indian textbook definition of “hard work”?

We glorify sleepless nights spent solving equations. But we scoff at sleepless nights spent editing a video, building an audience, and monetizing relatability. We still view creators, especially women, through a moral lens that’s long outdated.

The Bigger Picture: What We Value

This isn’t about Apoorva Mukhija vs. IITians. It’s about what India chooses to value in 2025.

Apoorva may not have cracked JEE, but she cracked the algorithm. She may not be working in a lab, but she’s built a digital brand that employs people, moves products, and shifts cultural conversations. Isn’t that a form of intelligence too?

Her critics often argue she “does nothing” compared to those in science or tech. But they fail to see the emotional labor, content strategy, creative risks, and constant reinvention required to keep an audience engaged in a fast-moving digital world. That’s not easy work—it’s just different work.

Influence or Indulgence?

Of course, not all criticism is baseless. The influencer economy does flirt with excess. Sometimes, it can promote unrealistic beauty standards, toxic positivity, or performative behavior. But dismissing the entire creator class as superficial is intellectually lazy. Like any industry, content creation has both depth and shallowness—it’s what you choose to focus on.

Apoorva’s content isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t have to be. But she clearly offers something millions are seeking: a voice that doesn’t pretend to be perfect, polished, or quiet.

A Mirror, Not a Threat

At the heart of this viral debate is an uncomfortable truth: influencers like Apoorva Mukhija are holding up a mirror to society. And many don’t like what they see.

Her boldness threatens the status quo. Her emotional openness is seen as “oversharing.” Her earnings are seen as “undeserved.” But maybe what people are really uncomfortable with is the freedom she represents—the freedom to choose a path outside of the mainstream, and succeed wildly at it.

The Verdict?

Whether you follow her or unfollow her, Apoorva Mukhija’s journey is a conversation worth having. Not just about content creation, but about changing definitions of success, gender bias, and our collective discomfort with non-traditional ambition.

One thing is certain: she didn’t crack the JEE. But she cracked something else—our idea of who gets to be rich, famous, and respected.

And maybe that’s the real revolution.