Rebel Kid Apoorva Mukhija: From B.Tech classrooms to brand deals

Time of India

11-07-2025

For many young professionals navigating the early stages of a corporate career, the path is mapped by stability, salaries and structured growth. For Apoorva Mukhija, however, that roadmap began to feel limiting.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Better known online as Rebel Kid, she has emerged as a voice of Gen Z, blending sharp social commentary with humour. But before she became a viral creator or built a community through her YouTube and Instagram reels, Apoorva was an engineering student turned Dell employee, working in a cubicle like thousands of others.
Her pivot from the tech industry to full-time content creation has drawn both curiosity and admiration, especially among young Indians who find themselves at the crossroads of passion and predictability.
Apoorva's story is not one of overnight fame. It is about decisions made quietly, a growing discomfort with the traditional trajectory, and an urge to speak in her own voice.
From Ghaziabad to Jaipur: Apoorva's journey shaped by academics
Apoorva's academic journey began in Ghaziabad, where she studied until 2012, before moving to the Convent of Jesus and Mary in New Delhi for her middle and early high school years. She then completed her Class 11 and 12 from Delhi Public School, Panipat.
Her higher education took her to Manipal University Jaipur, where she pursued a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science from 2018 to 2022. The curriculum focused on technical rigour, programming, and emerging technologies, but Apoorva's interests were already diverging. While her peers prepared for placements, she was quietly experimenting with content creation, refining her comic timing and sharpening her perspective.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Her choice of engineering, like many others from Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, was shaped by collective conditioning. In a now-viral podcast clip, she jokes about ending up in engineering simply because 'log kar rahe the' (everyone else was doing it). The line lands as comedy but speaks to a larger generational theme of conformity versus calling.
Apoorva's short stint at Dell and the decision to pivot
After graduation, Apoorva secured a role at Dell Technologies as a Sales Engineer Analyst.
The role was part of Dell's data protection division, focused on infrastructure solutions for North America. The job came with the promise of global exposure and professional growth.
Yet, what makes her story stand out is that she chose to step away from it. In interviews and public statements, Apoorva has noted that the decision to leave was not driven by burnout or failure but by clarity. She had already been creating content for a few years, balancing her growing digital presence with corporate responsibilities.
Slowly, her comedy sketches and rants began to gain traction.
Her alter ego, Rebel Kid, was born out of this dual life. What began as playful observations on everyday absurdities quickly turned into pointed reflections on societal expectations, ambition, and digital culture.
What makes Apoorva's leap resonate
What differentiates Apoorva's transition is the deliberateness behind it. Unlike creators who stumbled into virality or turned to content due to layoffs, she made a conscious choice to rewrite her path.
She speaks about "finding her voice" as a creator, one that does not echo what algorithms reward but what feels authentic to her.
Her brand associations reflect the same ethos. With over 4 million followers on Instagram, she has collaborated with over 150 brands including Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, Meta, and Disney+ Hotstar. Yet, her content remains sharply self-aware and refuses to rely on easy tropes or mimic trends without context.
Whether it's a spoof on influencer culture or a monologue about performance pressure, the tone is consistently reflective.
The Rebel Kid beyond social media
In recent months, Apoorva has widened her creative canvas. One of the more notable highlights has been her appearance on Traitors, a high-profile Amazon Prime India show that introduced her to a wider audience beyond Instagram and YouTube. Her performance on the show added a new dimension to her public persona, revealing a strategic thinker beneath the punchlines.
The show allowed viewers to see her in a new light, one that combined emotional intelligence with quiet determination.
She was also part of the global launch of Instagram's 'Born on Instagram' initiative, a platform designed to mentor and promote creators from diverse backgrounds. Apoorva's participation in such programmes underlines her increasing role not just as a performer but as a spokesperson for a new creator archetype.
One that is informed, intentional and impact-driven.
Education as foundation, not endpoint
Apoorva's journey challenges conventional narratives around education and success. A B.Tech degree followed by a well-paying job at a multinational is still considered a gold standard in Indian middle-class households. But for creators like her, the yardstick has shifted. Success today is increasingly being measured not by designations or CTCs but by autonomy, creative freedom and the ability to shape conversations.
Her engineering education gave her problem-solving skills and structured thinking. Her internships at platforms like MX TakaTak, DineOut and Dell added exposure to digital ecosystems. But it is her voice, as Rebel Kid, that has brought it all together into a cohesive, meaningful career.
The Rebel Kid as a modern archetype
The moniker "Rebel Kid" is not just branding, it encapsulates a mindset. Questioning without arrogance, laughing without cruelty, building without a blueprint.
Her content avoids cynicism and instead leans into the awkwardness, hopes and ironies of young adulthood. She has been open about the unglamorous side of being a creator: burnout, relevance anxiety, and the constant pressure to innovate. This transparency, paired with her wit and restraint, is what makes her relatable to a generation caught between digital expression and real-world expectation.
In many ways, Apoorva Mukhija's leap from Dell to full-time creation reflects a deeper truth. That education is not wasted if it is redirected and success is not always a straight line. And that sometimes, the bravest decision is to stop following the script and begin writing your own.