How one student protest took a GenZ influencer from 2,400 to 6 lakh followers
One protest, one viral reel and one old Bollywood song were enough to change Abhinav's fortunes. Better known as Isaac IRL, the creator saw his
One protest, one viral reel and one old Bollywood song were enough to change Abhinav's fortunes. Better known as Isaac IRL, the creator saw his Instagram following soar from around 2,000 to nearly six lakh after posting videos of the student protests in New Delhi. Abhinav, better known online as Isaac IRL, says he never expected the protests to transform his social media career. In an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, Abhinav said that before covering the movement, he was struggling with declining views and limited reach. Read Full Story However, reels shot at the protest site quickly gained traction, making him one of the most-followed Gen Z creators documenting the demonstrations.
One of his most widely shared videos featured the classic Kishore Kumar song Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi - an unconventional soundtrack for content aimed at younger audiences. Incidentally, the song gained popularity when TikTok was prevalent in India for influencers. AM NOT POLITICALLY AFFILIATED: ABHINAV Explaining the choice, Abhinav said he had come across the audio in another reel and liked the contrast it created. The combination of a vintage Bollywood song with visuals of a youth-led protest caught viewers' attention and helped the video spread widely. Despite the popularity of his protest content, Abhinav insists he is not politically affiliated. He said he visited the protest site to understand the atmosphere and create content rather than support any political organisation.
According to him, he did not witness stone pelting during the demonstrations but did see some individuals throwing objects towards police personnel, an act he described as wrong. At the peak of his online growth, Abhinav faced another challenge when his Instagram account was temporarily suspended following copyright complaints. He said, "The incident caused immense stress because I feared losing the audience I had built almost overnight." After seeking assistance, his account was restored, but the episode showed the vulnerability of creators whose careers depend entirely on social media platforms. FAME CHANGED FAMILY OUTLOOK The sudden fame also changed the outlook of his family. Abhinav said his parents were initially anxious about him attending protests, worried that clashes with police could put him in danger.
However, as his videos gained millions of views and his follower count surged, they became increasingly supportive and even celebrated his milestones by bringing home cakes. With his earnings and growing popularity, Abhinav recently upgraded his equipment by purchasing an iPhone 17 Pro, saying the improved camera and video capabilities would help him produce better content as he continues his journey as a digital creator. Ends
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