Apoorva Mukhija Opens Up About 'Kalawa' Controversy And Her Religious Beliefs

Content creator Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, has opened up about the online backlash surrounding a kalawa controversy, describing it as the "breaking point" after an already difficult period following the Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay Raina's India’s Got Latent controversy. She discussed the impact of prolonged online criticism and the pressure of being repeatedly judged for her actions.

In a recent Storytime video on her YouTube channel, Apoorva reflected on the period after the Latent controversy and the effect it had on her outlook and career. She recalled feeling overwhelmed by constant criticism and online abuse, adding that she had begun questioning her sense of purpose. The creator described the kalawa controversy as the point at which the pressure became particularly difficult to handle.

The controversy began when Apoorva was attending Coachella and filming a get-ready-with-me video before the music festival. During the recording, she cut the kalawa on her wrist with scissors, explaining that the thread did not fit the aesthetic of her outfit. The act triggered criticism online, with some viewers considering it disrespectful to religious beliefs and traditions associated with the sacred thread.

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Looking back, Apoorva explained that she did not intend to disrespect her faith when she cut the thread. She said her relationship with spirituality was relatively new and that she had recently begun finding comfort in her belief in God. She also noted that while she personally did not view cutting the thread as something that would offend God, she understood that others who shared the same faith could have been hurt or upset by the incident.

Apoorva also spoke about the challenges surrounding her move to New York, where she plans to pursue an MBA and enter a new phase of her life. Although living in New York had been a long-standing dream, she acknowledged the uncertainty of leaving behind her friends, career and familiar surroundings in India. She is now preparing to return to student life and live in a dormitory while pursuing her studies.

Apoorva made her acting debut with Nadaaniyan and later appeared in the first season of The Traitors. She was also associated with Lock Upp Season 2, where she entered the show as an informant. Her latest comments offer a glimpse into the pressure she experienced amid repeated online controversies as she now looks to balance her public career with a new chapter focused on education and life in New York.

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