Indian content creator Apoorva Makhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has moved from India to New York to pursue further studies. She confirmed the move through an Instagram story, writing, “Soo… I don’t live in India anymore,” after fans began asking about her whereabouts.
Makhija spoke about her decision during an appearance on the podcast Untriggered By AminJaz, revealing that she had already relocated to New York by the time the episode was released. She said her connection with the city developed after she visited it, describing how she felt an instant pull towards its pace, architecture, food and fashion, and had always wanted to live there after seeing it featured in web series she loved.
She said she applied to only one college in New York and was accepted, and will now be pursuing an MBA while living in a college dorm. Makhija explained that the move was driven by a desire to meet people outside the content creation industry, adding that being surrounded largely by fellow creators in Mumbai had kept her within a limited professional bubble.
Makhija also spoke about the toll of repeated online backlash, including the fallout from the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy last year, which saw her recording a statement with the Maharashtra cyber cell after an FIR was filed against her and several other content creators. She said the constant cycle of criticism and comebacks affected her income, as public backlash tends to pause her brand deals.
She said leaving India felt frightening despite the move being something she had long wanted, given that she was giving up an established career, close friends and familiar surroundings for student life in a new city. She added that she does not intend to remain a content creator forever and hopes to eventually move into business, though she said she does not yet feel ready to run a company of her own.
Makhija also said she plans to continue creating content from New York, though she expects it will look different from her earlier storytime style videos, and that she intends to post more selectively going forward.
