Popular Indian content creator Apoorva Mukhija, widely known as The Rebel Kid, recently surprised her massive fanbase with a major life update: she has officially relocated to New York City. Dropping the news via an Instagram Story with the caption, “Soo… I don’t live in India anymore,” the influencer confirmed that she is heading back to school to pursue an MBA in the bustling metropolis.
Apoorva recently appeared on the Untriggered By AminJaz podcast, where she spilled all the details about leaving her comfortable life in Mumbai behind, stepping out of the “creator bubble,” and moving into a Manhattan dorm.
Here is a complete breakdown of every statement Apoorva made about her bold move to the Big Apple.
Falling in Love With New York City
When asked what prompted the massive geographical shift, Apoorva revealed it all came down to a deep-rooted fascination with New York’s energy, aesthetics, and fast-paced lifestyle.
“I have travelled quite a lot and when I landed in New York, I was like… I really want to live here. There is something about that city. It’s so fast. Everyone is so well-dressed. The food is great. I love the architecture. And I have seen New York in almost every single web series that I love.”
In fact, she was so laser-focused on moving there that she only applied to one university.
“I have always wanted to live there so I only applied to one college because I only wanted to live in New York. I was like if I get in, I get in and I will go. And I got in. So now, I have to go.”
Leaving Behind Privilege in India for a Dorm Room
Despite her excitement, Apoorva candidly acknowledged the extreme contrast between her established, luxurious life in India and her new reality as a student in Manhattan.
“I have great friends, great house, a full-time house help. My career is going great. I make a lot of money. Everybody here knows me. I have access to a lot of things in this country. Then I am leaving all this to live in a dorm in Manhattan to study and be a student. And I don’t know anyone there.”
Why Pursue an MBA? “This Degree is of No Use”
Interestingly, Apoorva was refreshingly blunt about the academic value of her chosen MBA degree, stating that the qualification itself wasn’t the primary goal.
“This degree that I am going to do, is of no use. I never want to do a 9-5. I can start a business today if I want to. So why? Why would I do that which is why I am a little scared but I am also happy that I get to go.”
However, she expressed a strong desire to learn more about finance and business management—admitting her father still manages her finances—and to surround herself with experienced professionals.
“It’s so stupid. Why can’t I just learn it? I was like I am going to force myself to get a degree that teaches me all of this and I am going to force myself to sit with people who have worked in these fields who want to run businesses who have probably worked at senior positions. If nothing else, I get to live in New York.”
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She also confidently backed up her academic capabilities, sharing her past track record:
“I have done B-Tech in Computer Science. I had a 10 GPA in my 10th. 95.4% in my 12th. I had a 8.4 GPA in my college. So, I don’t mind studying. I can study. I don’t mind giving exams. I just want to have fun while at it.”
Escaping the “Creator Bubble” and Making Real Friends
One of the most relatable reasons Apoorva cited for her move was the exhaustion of being confined to the influencer circle in Mumbai and her desire to “touch grass”.
“I want to meet new people, and the only way you can do that is through college. Here (In Mumbai), I can only meet new creators through this job. I don’t want my circle to be just creators. My thinking has become very limited, I haven’t touched grass in a very long time and I just want to meet new people who don’t care about this world. The only way I could do that was if I go and study.”
She also admitted that she regrets how she spent her undergraduate years and wants a “do-over” on the classic college experience.
“When I was in college, I was in a relationship. I met this boy on the first day of college and I only hung out with him for the next four years. I really f***** it up. Now, I want to have a good college life.”
On Being Cancelled and Her New Era
Following the immense backlash from the recent India’s Got Latent controversy, Apoorva touched on how being repeatedly “cancelled” impacts her mental peace and, more importantly, her bank account. Since controversies halt her brand deals, she noted how much she dislikes the cycle because, as she bluntly put it, she “loves making money”.
Stepping into this new chapter in New York, she jokingly declared the end of her chaotic internet persona: “The ‘kaleshi aurat’ is dead now.” Apoorva concluded by stating that while she will continue creating content, she will be doing it entirely on her own terms now, posting only when she genuinely feels like it rather than adhering to the relentless algorithm.
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