Most people know Apoorva Mukhija as The Rebel Kid. A smaller number know her as The Kaleshi Aurat. And after February 2025, a much larger number know her as the influencer at the centre of one of India's biggest digital controversies of the year. What is less discussed is what she did next. She made a film. She entered Lock Upp 2. She submitted an apology to the National Commission for Women. And then, in August 2026, she packed her bags and moved to New York to start an MBA at NYU. That is a lot of chapters for someone who turned 25 in July 2026.
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| Apoorva Mukhija, known online as The Rebel Kid, relocated to New York in August 2026 to pursue an MBA at NYU after a career spanning content creation, Netflix films, and reality television. |
Who Is Apoorva Mukhija?
Apoorva Mukhija is an Indian content creator, actor, and digital influencer born on July 28, 2001, in New Delhi. She grew up in Noida, with family roots in Shahabad Markanda, Haryana. Online she goes by The Rebel Kid, a name that fits her candid, unfiltered content style. She holds a B.Tech in Computer Engineering from Manipal University, Jaipur, and previously worked as an Associate Sales Engineer Analyst at Dell Technologies before her creator career took over full time.
| Full Name | Apoorva Mukhija |
|---|---|
| Online Name | The Rebel Kid, The Kaleshi Aurat |
| Date of Birth | July 28, 2001 |
| Age | 25 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India |
| Education | B.Tech, Computer Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur; MBA, NYU (pursuing, 2026) |
| Profession | Content creator, actor, influencer |
| Known For | The Rebel Kid content, India's Got Latent controversy, Nadaaniyan (Netflix), Lock Upp 2 |
| Based In | New York (as of August 2026) |
Background and Early Life
Apoorva was born into a middle-class family in Delhi. Her father is a government employee and her mother worked as a teacher. She studied at Delhi Public School, Panipat, and later at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in New Delhi. Academically she was strong from the start, scoring a 10 GPA in Class 10 and 95.4 percent in Class 12 before graduating with an 8.4 GPA from Manipal University.
She has described her upbringing as strict, and that contrast between her family environment and her bold online personality became a central part of her content identity. Before going full time into content creation, she worked at Dell Technologies and completed internships in social media marketing and web development at companies including Dineout, MX TakaTak, and others.
Content Creation Career
Apoorva began creating content during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Her early videos combined comedy, candid storytelling, mini vlogs, and lifestyle content. The directness and relatability of her style built her a loyal audience quickly, particularly among young urban viewers.
She was listed among Forbes India's Top 100 Digital Stars in 2023 and ranked 8th on the Forbes India Creator List in 2024. By that point she had worked with over 60 major brands including Google, Netflix, Spotify, OnePlus, Amazon, Flipkart, Meta, and Hotstar. Her Instagram following crossed 4.4 million, making her one of the more followed independent creators in the Indian digital space.
Acting and Reality TV
Apoorva made her acting debut in the 2025 Netflix film Nadaaniyan, starring alongside Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan. The film marked her first step from the creator world into mainstream entertainment, and her performance attracted attention given that she came from a content background rather than conventional acting training.
She also appeared in the web series Baat Pakki (2025) and the woman-led talk show Spice It Up. In the reality space, she participated in the first season of The Traitors on Prime Video, and then entered Netflix's Lock Upp 2: Sach Ya Sazaa in July 2026 as a wildcard contestant. The show, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan, had her entering the jail-themed house and immediately making her presence felt by publicly stating she did not like fellow contestant Shilpa Shinde. She was in the house for approximately two weeks before her time ended. Shreya Kalra won the season.
India's Got Latent Controversy
In February 2025, Apoorva appeared as a guest panelist on Samay Raina's India's Got Latent, alongside Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani. A remark she made during the episode drew significant public backlash. Multiple FIRs were filed against her, along with other panelists. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell recorded her statement as part of the investigation. She and Allahbadia subsequently submitted apology letters to the National Commission for Women.
Apoorva later said she had received rape and death threats following the controversy. She acknowledged that the experience left her mentally disturbed and was a significant factor in her eventual decision to move abroad. While the controversy was centred more heavily on Allahbadia, Apoorva's involvement drew sustained scrutiny that affected her professionally.
Move to New York and NYU
In August 2026, Apoorva announced on the Untriggered By AminJaz podcast that she had relocated to New York to pursue an MBA. She confirmed the news on Instagram with the line "Soo… I don't live in India anymore."
She said she had applied to only one college in New York and got in, describing the city as somewhere she had always wanted to live after visiting it during her travels. She planned to live in a college dorm and build a social circle outside the creator industry.
When speculation emerged that she had bought her way into the university, she responded directly, saying her strong academic record and professional brand work experience were what secured her admission. She also acknowledged that people had warned her the move was career suicide, but said the combination of the controversy fallout and a genuine desire for a new chapter made the decision clear.
Social Media
Apoorva is active on Instagram at @apoorvamukhija. She has said her content from New York may look different from her earlier storytime and lifestyle videos in India, but she plans to continue creating.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Rebel Kid?
The Rebel Kid is the online name of Apoorva Mukhija, an Indian content creator and actor born on July 28, 2001. She rose to fame during the COVID-19 lockdown with candid comedy and lifestyle content.
What is the India's Got Latent controversy?
In February 2025, Apoorva appeared on Samay Raina's show India's Got Latent alongside Ranveer Allahbadia and Ashish Chanchlani. A remark she made caused public backlash, multiple FIRs, and an investigation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell. She later submitted an apology letter to the National Commission for Women.
Is Apoorva Mukhija in a film?
Yes. She made her acting debut in the 2025 Netflix film Nadaaniyan, alongside Khushi Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan.
Was Apoorva Mukhija in Lock Upp 2?
Yes. She entered Lock Upp 2 on Netflix as a wildcard contestant in July 2026 and was in the house for approximately two weeks. Shreya Kalra won the season.
Where does Apoorva Mukhija live now?
As of August 2026, she has relocated to New York to pursue an MBA at NYU.
What did Apoorva Mukhija study?
She holds a B.Tech in Computer Engineering from Manipal University, Jaipur. She is currently pursuing an MBA at NYU in New York.
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