The final episode of Ekaki was unveiled last month. This marked the debut series of YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani, who is widely known for his comedy sketches. With Ekaki, he also ventured into the science-fiction space, a series he wrote, directed, produced and acted in.
Ashish on facing loss
Ekaki marked a turning point in Ashish’s career as well as a major creative pivot. The creator, who is known for his relatable comedy sketches, said he felt the need to experiment. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Ashish was asked if his parents and well-wishers had advised him against taking such a huge risk. He admitted that he had been hearing that for a long time.
“And I was like, ‘Now that I have turned 30, if I don’t take a risk now, then when will I take a risk? Till when will I keep making content about Holi, Diwali and tuition classes?’” he said.
While the show has gained significant traction online, Ashish admitted that it has not been financially rewarding so far. “If we see monetarily, I am in a huge loss, but emotionally and mentally, I am in a lot of profit today. Paise kama lenge aage chalke 100% (we’ll earn money in the future 100%),” he said.
Why Ekaki did not go on OTT?
Chanchlani also revealed that several OTT platforms initially struggled to understand the show’s format. “Many OTTs didn’t quite get what I was trying to do. It’s essentially sketch comedy with a YouTube feel, but woven into a larger narrative. Since it was a new format, they found it difficult to grasp,” he explained.
Ashish added that he even received a lucrative offer just 10 days before the show’s release but chose to turn it down. “A major platform offered me a good amount of money, and I could have easily cashed out. But I knew I wouldn’t have been happy,” he said, noting that releasing Ekaki on YouTube helped it reach a much larger audience.
“The viewership Ekaki has generated on YouTube is crazy, almost 10 times more than it would have been on any other platform. Each chapter became an event, and people kept talking about it for months,” he said, calling the series a gift to his loyal audience.
More about Ekaki
With Ekaki, Ashish Chanchlani steps fully into the driver’s seat, taking on the roles of writer, director, producer and lead actor. The series reflects his passion and determination to bring a story to life exactly the way he imagined it. He is supported by a trusted team throughout the journey.
Kunal Chhabhria joins as co-producer, Akash Dodeja appears as the parallel lead, Jashan Sirwani oversees operations as executive producer, and Tanish Sirwani guides the show’s creative vision.
