Prajakta Koli—often hailed as the OG content creator on YouTube—stands tall with over 7 million loyal followers, firmly establishing herself as the reigning queen of YouTube in India. With her infectious charm and relatable content on her channel, MostlySane, she effortlessly captures the hearts of her audience.
However, Prajakta is more than just a comedian; she’s a beacon of authenticity in a sea of superficiality. Through her quirky yet honest content, she strives not only to elicit laughter but also to spark meaningful conversations about real-world issues. Prajakta understands the power of her platform and utilises it to shed light on topics that truly matter.
In essence, she is not just a creator; she’s a trailblazer who navigates the digital landscape with purpose and authenticity, leaving a lasting mark on the hearts and minds of millions.
The Dream Not Meant To Be
It’s no secret that Prajakta has always been remarkably transparent about her journey on the platform. She’s poured her heart out to her fans on numerous occasions, offering us a glimpse into her life as a creator and her journey.
As a child, Prajakta harboured a deep love for acting, dancing, and the spotlight. The sheer joy and fulfilment she experienced while performing on stage played a pivotal role in shaping her career trajectory. In various interviews, Prajakta has revealed that she also aspired to become a radio jockey since she was in the sixth grade.
Her aspirations soon became a reality when she started as an intern at a radio station where she got the opportunity to host her show. However, her journey in radio took an unexpected turn when she faced the reality that it wasn’t the right fit for her. With admirable honesty, Prajakta openly acknowledges that she was let go from the position, recognising that it simply didn’t work out.
This realisation is very inspiring. Sometimes, the things we yearn for the most may not align with our strengths and capabilities. It’s a journey of self-discovery that many can relate to.
Things Coming Together
It wasn’t until Sudeep Lahiri from One Digital Entertainment reached out to her and introduced her to YouTube that Prajakta’s path took a new direction. Before this, Prajakta had little knowledge of YouTube and its potential for content creation and performance. Ironically, she misunderstood the offer, believing she was being offered a job at YouTube and was completely unaware of its true potential.
And from that moment, the rest is history. Prajakta launched her channel “Mostly Sane” in February 2015, focusing on comedy content. She swiftly gained traction and amassed thirty thousand followers within just two months. In one of her YouTube videos, she candidly shared her belief that reaching 30K followers would have brought her immense happiness and satisfaction in her career.
Prajakta and Her Caps
It is no secret that Prajakta Koli is not just limited to being a content creator on YouTube today. She has been vigilant in understanding the opportunities that have come her way and has taken them head-on.
One of the standout features of her videos is the #RealTalkTuesdays segment, initially conceived as a platform for genuine dialogues with her audience. Yet, as Prajakta recognised the extent of her influence, she began addressing significant topics such as her struggles with mental health and body positivity. The success of this segment caught the attention of the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
They reached out to her to initiate a conversation on climate change, a subject that surprised Prajakta since she had never addressed it on her channel before. However, she soon grasped that she didn’t need to be an expert on climate change. In an interview with CNBC, she expressed that she could simply serve as the ‘vehicle for the cause’. It’s no surprise that, driven by her sincerity and determination to effect change, Prajakta has been appointed as India’s first UNDP Youth Climate Champion.
She has also had the opportunity to work on a project with none other than Michelle Obama and the Girls Opportunity Alliance (a program of the Obama Foundation), which focuses on creating awareness about girls’ education. The lovely conversation (#CreatorsForChange), which includes creators like Thembe Mahlaba and Liza Koshy, is available on the YouTube Originals channel.
Prajakta is renowned for her comedic videos that not only tickle the funny bone but also strike a chord with audiences. Whether portraying a sassy middle-class mom, a goofy yet endearing younger brother, or the snobby friend Sonya, her characters consistently elicit laughter and resonate deeply with viewers.
Her talent caught the eye of filmmakers, leading to the release of her first movie, “Khayali Pulao,” on YouTube.
In the same year, she made her debut on Netflix with her first-ever series, which proved to be a resounding success, spawning two seasons already, with the next instalment set to release soon.
Today, Prajakta has already played pivotal characters in two big Bollywood films, impressing everyone with her versatility, and making her dream of acting and performing come true.
Struggles and Learnings
Prajakta has openly discussed the challenges she faced as a content creator. There were moments when her efforts did not yield the expected results, and her content struggled to gain traction. Through several setbacks in her content creation journey, Prajakta realised that to remain competitive and stay relevant, she must frequently adjust her strategies and continually innovate her content.
In one of her #RealTalkTuesday videos, Prajakta reflects on the importance of embracing discomfort as a catalyst for creativity. She emphasizes the necessity of constantly generating fresh ideas and content, refusing to settle for the status quo.
Koli emphasizes another valuable lesson for her young audience: the importance of not over-planning. Reflecting on her journey before YouTube, Prajakta shares how she had always envisioned herself pursuing a career as a radio jockey. Although she secured an internship at a radio station, she soon realized that this path wasn’t for her. This realization left her feeling despondent for some time.
MostlySane- A Success Story
Creators and artists like Prajakta Koli are rare gems. Her journey teaches us and young women everywhere that there’s no substitute for hard work. Individuals like Prajakta inspire us women to recognize that often, filters and preconceptions exist only in our minds, possessing only as much power as we allow them. By succumbing to the narrative that women face greater challenges in any career field, we limit our potential. It’s crucial to realize our strengths, our capabilities, and never shy away from embracing discomfort to acquire new skills and knowledge.
As we reflect on Prajakta’s journey and the many caps she’s donned—as an activist for climate change, a comedian, an actor, and a music artist—we realize that opportunities abound if we simply open our minds to see them.
One of the most significant lessons from her life story is the importance of perspective. Life may throw us lemons, but it’s the ability to turn them into lemonade that truly matters.
Signing off in the words of MostlySane, until we meet, Love Love. 🙂
