India’s biggest digital star, Ashish Chanchlani, widely known for his comic timing and viral sketches, surprised everyone when he stepped into direction with Ekaki. What many are now calling the biggest success story of a digital content creator transitioning into a mainstream storyteller, Ashish didn’t just experiment; he reinvented himself. Breaking away from his regular style of content, he chose to craft a layered mix of horror, comedy, and thriller that eventually evolved into something far more ambitious.
The series, which he not only directed but also wrote, produced, and in which he plays the lead actor, quickly found its audience. Each chapter deepened the mystery, raised the stakes, and expanded the world-building in ways that felt cinematic in scale. Many are calling Ekaki probably the first truly successful sci-fi web series in India, and that in itself is historic. Kudos to Ashish for daring to make one when playing safe would have been easier.
The final chapter, however, did not come easily. It was originally slated for release on January 30, but an unforeseen technical glitch disrupted those plans. A hard drive crash wiped out nearly 20 percent of the VFX work, months of painstaking effort gone overnight. Instead of rushing things, Ashish addressed fans directly, explaining the situation and assuring them that the team would rebuild everything properly. He promised a finale worth the wait, a decision that reflected his belief in quality over compromise.
And the wait clearly paid off. After weeks of anticipation and constant demand from viewers, the last chapter finally dropped yesterday, and the response has been massive. Within just 24 hours, Chapter 5 clocked 1 crore+ views, making it the most viewed long-format video in a single day on YouTube. The figures are truly staggering, and for a first-time directorial venture of this magnitude, they point to something far greater. Ekaki may well be on track to emerging as one of India’s biggest web series.
What makes Ekaki truly mind-blowing is the way the series transitions, from horror to sci-fi and ultimately into the origin story of an entirely new species. That kind of genre evolution is rare, especially in Indian web content. The writing dared to think beyond anything usual, the visualization delivered something no one had ever seen on an Indian web series before, and the performances elevated the narrative to another level. Comedy or romance is familiar territory in digital entertainment, but what Ashish has done is unexpected and unprecedented.
More than just a hit, this is a never-seen-before success story, and Ashish has turned it into reality, opening doors for others to dream bigger. Creators like him are rare, perhaps the only one to crack a full-fledged series format on YouTube and transform it into a massive success.
With Ekaki, Ashish Chanchlani takes charge of the project in every possible way, leading it as the writer, director, producer, and main actor. The series feels like a true passion project, reflecting his clear vision and commitment to telling the story just the way he always imagined it. He is supported by a trusted team. Kunal Chhabhria backs the project as co-producer, while Akash Dodeja plays the parallel lead. Behind the scenes, Jashan Sirwani manages responsibilities as executive producer, and Tanish Sirwani helps shape the overall creative direction.
The screenplay has been crafted in collaboration with Grishim Nawanii, with Ritesh Sadhwani handling on-ground execution as line producer to keep things running seamlessly. With its fresh narrative and engaging storytelling, all episodes of Ekaki are now streaming on ACV Studios’ YouTube channel.
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