Apoorva Mukhija, known online as “The Rebel Kid,” went from viral rant videos to a national controversy, then a reality-TV run, and in 2026 to business school in New York. This profile covers what has been reported about her, what is still unconfirmed, and the latest news as of 21 October 2026.
Who Is Apoorva Mukhija?
Apoorva Mukhija is an Indian influencer and YouTuber. According to the Free Press Journal, she became popular after videos of her ranting about everyday life went viral. Her surname also appears as “Makhija.” NewsOnAir uses that spelling, and MissMalini uses both. This article uses “Mukhija” throughout.
IBTimes UK described her as 25 in 2026. That age is how the outlet reported it. We have not confirmed her birth date.
Early Life and Background: What Is and Isn’t Confirmed
Very little about her early life is confirmed. She has said she has lived alone since she was 17 (NewsKarnataka, 8 October 2026).
Other details circulate online: a specific birth date, a birthplace, her mother’s name and the college she attended. These come from low-reliability celebrity-biography sites, and those sites contradict each other. We have not found a primary source, such as her own posts or interviews, that confirms them, so we have left them out.
How Her Content Grew
Apoorva Mukhija built her audience with outspoken, rant-style videos about everyday life. That approach helped her grow on two main platforms:
- Instagram: where most of her followers are
- YouTube: where she also posts videos
Reports of her Instagram following range from about 2.6 million to more than 3 million. Both numbers are probably out of date.
For current follower counts, check her verified Instagram and YouTube profiles directly. Avoid unofficial or fan-run accounts, which may show wrong information.
Major Career Moments
Two events brought her to mainstream attention: a controversy over an online comedy show and a run on a reality series.
India’s Got Latent Controversy (February 2025)
She appeared on Samay Raina’s YouTube show India’s Got Latent. Outlets variously describe her as a guest, a panellist or a judge. The backlash began with a remark by Ranveer Allahbadia, and coverage says her own comments also drew criticism.
FIRs were filed against several participants, including her. NewsOnAir reported on 26 February 2025 that the Maharashtra Cyber Cell had recorded her statement. Coverage also says the National Commission for Women summoned her.
- She deleted her Instagram posts and unfollowed everyone (Storyboard18; Free Press Journal).
- She shared screenshots of death and rape threats (Tribune India).
- She said she was asked to leave her Mumbai flat after police visits (Free Press Journal).
- She told Amar Ujala (29 April 2025) that she “cried a lot.”
Case status: As of October 2026, we found no reports of a final outcome in her case. Readers should not assume it has been resolved or dropped.
The Traitors on Prime Video (2025)
She was a contestant on the Indian version of The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar. She has said the show was filmed before the Latent controversy (Bollywoodshaadis). She was banished just before the finale. Wikipedia lists her exit in the penultimate episode, while Pinkvilla places it at the start of the final episode. Uorfi Javed and Nikita Luther won and took home Rs 70 lakh (Pinkvilla).
2026: Moving to New York for an MBA at NYU Stern
In 2026 she told her Instagram followers, “So I don’t live in India anymore.” She explained that she had moved to New York for an MBA at NYU Stern and wanted the college experience she had missed (Brut; DNA India). She has denied rumours that she got in through donations, crediting her academic record and her work with brands (Andhravilas). That is her own account and has not been independently verified.
She has said settling in was hard (NewsKarnataka, 8 October 2026). She arrived in August, missed the dorm deadline and stayed in a hotel at about Rs 25,000 a night. She then cancelled a dorm room that cost about $4,500 a month. She described the cost as “Rs 4.5 lakh a month,” but that figure doesn’t match the dollar amount, so treat it as her own estimate. She found an apartment after about 60 days and called New York “brutal.”
Latest News: Leaked Private Video (September–October 2026)
As of 21 October 2026: In September 2026, a private clip reportedly showing her with podcaster and DJ Amin Jaz surfaced online (IWMBuzz). Neither of them has publicly confirmed a relationship.
Her account comes from a YouTube vlog reported on 7–8 October 2026. She said the clip was about a year old and had been filmed at a private party without their knowledge. She heard about the leak while travelling from Turkey to New York via London and broke down at Heathrow. She also said her parents had seen the video (MissMalini; Siasat; IWMBuzz).
We found no reports of legal action. Sharing private footage without consent harms the people in it, so please don’t look for this clip or pass it on. For related context, see our coverage of Alina Amir’s viral news.
What to Watch Next
This section is analysis, not prediction. Several questions are still open:
- Whether there are any updates in the Latent-related cases.
- How her content changes now that she is a student in New York.
- Whether she responds further, or takes action, over the leak.
Copycat and fan pages often spread unverified claims about influencers. Before trusting a post, read our guide on how to check if an influencer account is real.
FAQ
Why is she called “The Rebel Kid”?
It is the name she uses online. It fits the rant-style videos that made her popular.
Is it Mukhija or Makhija?
Both spellings appear in news coverage. “Mukhija” is the more common one.
Has the India’s Got Latent case ended?
We found no reports of a final outcome in her case as of October 2026.
Did she win The Traitors?
No. She was banished just before the finale. Uorfi Javed and Nikita Luther won.
Where is she now?
She says she is studying for an MBA at NYU Stern in New York.
Conclusion
Mukhija’s public story so far includes viral fame, a serious controversy, reality TV and a move abroad. Much of her biography is still unconfirmed, and her legal situation is unclear. We will update this article if verified developments are reported.
