Monday, February 9, 2026

Prajakta Koli Biography: From Radio Intern to India’s Most Influential YouTuber

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Prajakta Koli Biography: What do Michelle Obama, Bill Gates, and Jennifer Aniston have in common? They’ve all sat down for interviews with a girl from Thane who once thought her career was over at 21.

Today, Prajakta Koli isn’t just India’s most recognized YouTuber.

she’s a UN ambassador, a bestselling author, and the only Indian on TIME’s inaugural 100 Creators list.

But her story didn’t start with red carpets or viral videos. It started with a failed radio show and a borrowed camera.

Personal Overview

Full NamePrajakta Koli
Famous AsMostlySane
Date of BirthJune 27, 1993
Age (as of 2026)32 years
BirthplaceThane, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
FatherManoj Koli
MotherArchana Koli
ProfessionYouTuber, Actress, Author, Social Activist
YouTube ChannelMostlySane (7.2+ million subscribers)
EducationGraduate (Mass Media background)
Marital StatusMarried
SpouseVrishank Khanal (Corporate Lawyer)
Marriage DateFebruary 25, 2025
Net WorthApproximately ₹16 crores (as of 2024)
Notable WorkMismatched (Netflix), JugJugg Jeeyo, Too Good To Be True (Novel)
RecognitionTIME100 Creators (2025), Forbes 30 Under 30, UNDP Youth Climate Champion
Social Media PlatformsYouTube, Instagram, Twitter

Early Life and Background

Prajakta Koli Biography: Born on June 27, 1993, in Thane, Maharashtra, Prajakta Koli grew up in a middle-class family with parents Manoj and Archana Koli.

Her journey to becoming Indian YouTuber Prajakta Koli wasn’t planned or privileged.

As an energetic child with a talkative nature, she had already decided by sixth grade that she would become a Radio Jockey, a dream that would shape her teenage years.

Education and Career Beginnings

Prajakta Koli Biography: Prajakta pursued her education with one clear dream to work in radio. That dream took her to a coveted internship at Mumbai’s Fever 104 FM, one of India’s most popular radio stations.

However, reality was far from perfect. She was assigned to a late-night show called Call Centre, where rigid broadcasting rules, constant pressure, and limited creative freedom left her feeling suffocated.

What she had imagined as her big break slowly turned into a struggle.

After months of pushing herself, Prajakta made one of the hardest decisions of her life she quit it.

At just 21, she felt like a failure, believing the career she had planned for years was over.

Journey as a YouTuber (MostlySane)

Prajakta Koli’s YouTube journey began almost by accident. In February 2015, during a promotional visit to the radio station, Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and One Digital Entertainment’s Sudeep Lahiri noticed her natural wit and vibrant personality.

Sudeep made a simple yet life-changing suggestion, why not start a YouTube channel?
At that time, YouTube in India was largely dominated by male tech reviewers and prank creators, with very few women in observational comedy.

Hesitant at first, Prajakta eventually decided to take the risk because she had no job and nothing to lose.She named her channel MostlySane, a playful nod to her hyperactive and slightly chaotic personality.

Her early videos were raw and unpolished, filmed with a basic camera stacked on books, against the curtains of her Thane home.

Initially, the videos received only a few hundred views, mostly from friends and family.
Instead of giving up, Prajakta focused on what she knew best the everyday struggles and quirks of young Indians.

Her video “Types of People on WhatsApp Groups” struck a massive chord for its relatability and authenticity.

Within just two months, MostlySane (real name Prajakta Koli) gained 30,000 subscribers, an impressive milestone in 2015.

Rise to Fame on Social Media

The MostlySane channel soon exploded in popularity. Prajakta’s sketches on Indian parents, college life, annoying relatives, and everyday millennial problems struck a deep chord with young Indians.

She wasn’t pretending to be anyone else , she was simply being Prajakta, switching naturally between simple English and Hindi, and reflecting the lives of millions.

By 2019, her influence had reached a global level when she became the first Indian YouTuber to be interviewed by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. It wasn’t just recognition—it was validation that her voice mattered worldwide.

As of early 2026, Prajakta Koli’s YouTube channel has crossed 7.2 million subscribers.
Acting Career and Bollywood Journey

Prajakta Koli’s talent soon expanded beyond YouTube. In 2020, she made her acting debut with the short film Khayali Pulao.

Her real breakthrough, however, came with Netflix’s Mismatched, where she played Dimple Ahuja, a young coder balancing ambition and love.

The series became a massive hit, proving Prajakta’s natural ease as an actor.

Her Bollywood debut followed in 2022 with Dharma Productions’ JugJugg Jeeyo, and she appeared in Neeyat in 2023.

The list of Prajakta Koli movies and web series continued to grow with Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025) and her Marathi film debut in 2026 with Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam, where she played Anjali Rane.

On February 3, 2026, Netflix officially announced Mismatched Season 4, the final chapter of Dimple and Rishi’s story, set against Mumbai’s Marine Drive.

Prajakta is also exploring new genres with Andhera, a supernatural thriller on Amazon Prime Video, further proving her versatility as an actor.

International Recognition and Global Projects

In 2019, Prajakta Koli interviewed global icons like Michelle Obama, Bill Gates, and Jennifer Aniston, showcasing her ability to lead meaningful conversations beyond comedy.

Her biggest global milestone came in 2025, when she became the only Indian creator featured on TIME’s inaugural TIME100 Creators list, marking worldwide recognition for Indian digital creators.

She has also worked on climate awareness campaigns with international organizations, collaborating with Al Gore, Priyanka Chopra, and Shakira.

Her participation in TED Countdown and the 24-hour global streamathon The Call To Unite with Oprah Winfrey during the pandemic highlighted her commitment to global causes.

Social Work, UN Ambassador Role, and Advocacy

What truly sets Prajakta Koli apart is how she uses her influence. In 2022, she was appointed UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, using her platform to educate millions about climate change.

Campaigns like #ClimateCounts, “Don’t Choose Extinction,” and her YouTube series “Climate Change Is Real” made complex environmental issues easy for young Indians to understand.

As a Prajakta Koli UN ambassador, she has led and supported several impactful initiatives:

Creators For Change: Her Emmy-winning documentary with Michelle Obama focused on girls’ education.
#iPledgeToBeMe (2016): A campaign against body shaming and mental health stigma.
No Offence: Addressed trolling, sexism, and homophobia; showcased at the UN headquarters.
#GirlsCount: Advocated for girls’ education in partnership with ONE.org.

She was also featured in WhatsApp’s first TV commercial in India, raising awareness about the dangers of fake news, an issue impacting millions.

Personal Life

On February 25, 2025, Prajakta married Vrishank Khanal, a corporate lawyer, after 13 years together.

Despite Prajakta Koli age being just 32, her maturity shines through her openness about anxiety, body image, and content creation pressures.

She’s also a bestselling author. Too Good To Be True (2025) became #1 nationally. Prajakta Koli net worth stands at approximately ₹16 crores (2024).

Achievements, Awards, and Milestones

• 2019 – Forbes India 30 Under 30: Recognized as one of India’s most influential young digital creators.
• 2019 – Cosmopolitan YouTuber of the Year: Honored for her impact as a leading female content creator.
• 2019 – Youth Influencer of the Year (Popular Awards): Celebrated for her strong connect with Indian youth.
• 2019 – Viral Queen of the Year (Popular Awards): Awarded for consistently relatable and viral content.
• 2020 – Acting Debut: Entered acting with the short film Khayali Pulao.
• 2021 – Daytime Emmy Award: Won for the Creators for Change with Michelle Obama documentary series.
• 2022 – UNDP India Youth Climate Champion: Became UNDP India’s first youth climate champion.
• 2022 – Bollywood Debut: Made her Hindi film debut with JugJugg Jeeyo.
• 2023 – Filmfare Nomination: Nominated for Best Female Debut for JugJugg Jeeyo.
• 2023 – NDTV Indian of the Year: Won Climate Influencer of the Year award.
• 2023 – Lokmat Digital Creator of the Year: Recognized for excellence in digital storytelling.
• 2024 – Bollywood Hungama Style Icons: Honored as a leading digital star.
• 2025 – TIME100 Creators List: Featured as the only Indian creator on TIME’s inaugural list.
• 2025 – National Bestselling Author: Her book Too Good To Be True became a bestseller.
• 2025 – Influential Personality of the Year (IDMA): Honored for digital media influence.
• 2025 – Film Role: Appeared in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.
• 2026 – Marathi Film Debut: Starred as Anjali Rane in Krantijyoti Vidyalay Marathi Madhyam.
• 2026 – Mismatched Season 4: Returned as Dimple Ahuja in the final season on Netflix.
• 2026 – 7.2+ Million Subscribers: Established herself among India’s top YouTube creators.
Fun Facts About Prajakta Koli
• She has five meaningful tattoos, including symbols of the universe, her parents’ names, balance and excellence, and one on her ankle.
• Prajakta is a skilled cook, able to make over 15 Indian and Italian dishes.
• A true food lover, her favorites include chicken momos, eggs, sausages, granola bars, and chocolate smoothies.
• She enjoys collecting unique coffee mugs from her travels.
• Her parents were initially unsure about her YouTube career, but today she is the highest earner in her family.
• Prajakta is a lifelong Shah Rukh Khan fan and grew up loving the Harry Potter film series.
• During her stressful radio internship, she lost 11 kg due to long 14-hour workdays, which eventually led her to quit.
• She is lovingly called “Praju” by family and friends and is known as “Desi Superwoman” among fans.
• An animal lover, she is a pet parent to her dog Titli.
• Her favorite comedian is Ellen DeGeneres, who inspires her humor.
• In her free time, she enjoys learning the piano.
• Her digital journey began with her first YouTube video, “Five Types of Singles on Valentine’s Day,” uploaded on Valentine’s Day 2015.

As Prajakta continues to create, act, write, and advocate in 2026, one thing remains clear, this is only the beginning of a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

Also Read: Shivam Dube Biography: The Rise of India’s Fearless All-Rounder

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