Antil Yadav (RJ Khurki) talks about enjoying his content creation journey and feeling blessed about getting the chance to connect with the audience.
The growth of digital content creation platforms has helped us connect to a huge lot of talented people who can make the most mundane deed into an interesting 15-sec video or post. They can turn to any instance as the audience finds themselves connected to it because of the similarity it has to their own lives. Joining this array of talented people is Antil Yadav or RJ Khurki as he is fondly known online.
With over 13 years of experience with various platforms like radio and digital media, Antil Yadav started his contentpreneur journey as a popular prime-time Radio Jockey (RJ Khurki) for a leading radio station in Delhi. He was the youngest RJ in Delhi at that time.
As we saw an onset boom of digital content in India, Antil became a popular face on ScoopWhoop after he joined the platform in 2015. In 2017, he started building one of the biggest lifestyle channels in India, OK Tested, both as a creative supervisor spearheading end-to-end execution of videos and being a popular anchor with more than 75K Instagram followers. The audience soon enjoyed watching him for his quirky way of expressing his emotions and opinions. And he tried to maintain this bond he shares with his audience through frequent interactions with his fans on his Instagram and by posting interactive content.
Antil, however, started building a brand new content channel called 'The Urban Guide.' The channel sees content creators come together to build engaging content that ranges from trying out new things to facing one's deepest fears. Antil himself faced his fear of heights and jumped from 10,000 ft. He also recently started his vlogs channel, Antil Vlogs, where he would be giving a peep into his personal life. He has a way with his content that is loved by the audience because it's pure entertainment with utmost simplicity without any exaggeration.
Besides being witty, Antil is an inspiration for many people and leaves no stone unturned in keeping his fans entertained through his savage and relatable content. We had the opportunity to interact with the creator and know more about this exciting journey and new ventures.
How did your RJ-ing journey begin?
"I was in the second standard when I heard the radio for the very first time. It was love at first sight, and I was absolutely smitten by the idea. The idea of playing music for the listeners and having conversations with interesting people seemed to like the most fantastic thing to do. It was right there and then that I decided that this is what I would like to pursue as a career when I grow up. I was good at academics and took science in school. However, I switched streams and did my graduation in Mass communication so that I could learn more about this profession and get closer to my dream. In the final year of college, I took an internship at a prestigious radio station. During my internship, I picked up a lot of nuances of this profession, and my knowledge base grew immensely. Post-college, I auditioned for various radio stations and got a chance to be the co-host of the evening show for another popular radio station, and that is how I started my journey as an RJ."
How did this shift from being an RJ to a content creator happen?
"I believe that RJs are also content creators in their own way. As an RJ, you get to weave stories through your words and voice. It is a different form of storytelling where you are just through the medium of sound, creating a complete ambiance and kindling the imagination of the listeners and becoming an integral part of their lives. I decided to make the switch to the digital world after hosting the evening drive show for more than six years. I still recollect that the boom of digital publications/content creation had just started in India then. I felt that the medium provided infinite possibilities and was excited at the prospects. Although I was taking a risk, there was no iota of doubt in my mind."
Has your content evolved over time, especially with the popularity of short-video platforms?
"Oh yes. The content creation landscape is dynamic, and every creator brings in their own flavour. In a bid to create maximum impact through their content, creators continue to experiment with their offering and have continued to evolve through the changing times. Personally, I feel that with the onset of short video platforms, I was able to make crisper content and have started taking lesser time to drive home my point. Viewers' attention span is limited, and they need to connect with you in order to appreciate your content. I am lucky to have found that bond and have a loyal follower base."
How do you think the growing love for podcasts has impacted audio content?
"Streaming and on-demand services have taken an uptick in the last few years. The pandemic has further fuelled their growth. In India, Podcasts did not find an instant connection. However, things have changed, and people have warmed up to this category. It has rekindled the strong love people already have for the audio content. The growing popularity of this category has impacted the audio content, and makers are looking for engaging content and out-of-the-box ideas."
Since you started creating videos, what according to you are the best and worst parts of content creation?
"The best part is connecting with the audience and being a part of their lives even when you’ve never met them. It is a surreal experience to connect with millions of people in one go and engage and entertain them. I am fortunate to have got the chance to connect with so many people. The worst part is that it takes a lot of time, especially at the beginning of the journey, to understand the difference between criticism and trolling."
You recently also started your own vlog channel. Was vlogging always part of your plan or was it something that happened along the way?
"I consider myself to be very fortunate and have always been showered with a lot of love and support from the audience. Therefore, it was always a part of my plan to give them a peek into my life. I wanted them to know me not just as a content creator but as a person. I wanted to share my family with them. I am glad that people have loved the first video on the new channel and are showering me with all the support. Seeing all this has boosted my confidence and morale in a big way and I am stoked to share my next set of videos with them."
Have you received any DM from your followers that stayed with you?
"Many of my followers and fans address me as Antil Bhai and treat me like their elder brother only. The most recent DM that stayed with me was after I had put out the vlog about my son’s first day at school. One of my followers messaged me that she recently discovered that she’s pregnant. Knowing this had made her happy as well as anxious. In her message, she shared that after watching the vlog she felt as if she saw her kid’s future in Yuvaan and it helped in calming her down."
What are your hopes for your content creation journey?
"I have had a beautiful journey so far. Even though I have had my share of highs and lows during this course, I have enjoyed every bit of the experience thoroughly. Going forward, I wish to keep creating content that resonates with my audience and hopes to connect with a wider audience base."
We cannot wait to see what more Antil has in store for us!
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