Ashish Chanchlani Ventures into Sci-Fi with YouTube Series 'Ekaki'
Popular content creator and actor Ashish Chanchlani has made a significant departure from his comedy roots with the launch of his YouTube series 'Ekaki', marking a bold entry into the sci-fi genre. Known for viral comedy sketches, Chanchlani has taken on multiple roles as writer, director, producer, and lead actor in this innovative project that blends science fiction, horror, and comedy elements.
Origins of the 'Ekaki' Concept
In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Chanchlani revealed that the series concept emerged from casual discussions with friends about supernatural phenomena. "The fear of the unknown is a very good topic, not really explored well," he explained. "Whenever we find something uncanny or mysterious, we always say it's a ghost, but we never question the reality of it."
The creator detailed how a simple conversation sparked the central premise: "One day, I was with my friends, and I said, 'You say there are ghosts here, but it can even be aliens.' That's how the idea came that first we will make an environment to make people believe that there's a ghost here, but in the end we will reveal it was an alien all along."
Creative Challenges and Genre Innovation
Chanchlani acknowledged the difficulties in crafting the screenplay, stating: "So it took us a lot of time to write the screenplay because it was very tricky. And my first and foremost rule of writing this genre was that we will not complicate it." He emphasized his approach to science fiction in the Indian context: "Sci-fi is a topic which is rarely touched on in India. But we will embrace it fully, but also make sure it's not just about shock value."
A Career Risk at Age 30
For the 30-year-old creator, 'Ekaki' represents a deliberate career pivot. "And I was like, 'Now I have turned 30, if I don't take risk now, then when will I take risk?' Till when will I keep making content about Holi, Diwali and tuition classes?" Chanchlani questioned, expressing his desire to move beyond repetitive content that eventually bores audiences.
Financial Sacrifice for Creative Fulfillment
The project has come at significant financial cost, with Chanchlani admitting: "If we see monetarily, I am in a huge loss, but emotionally and mentally, I am in a lot of profit today." He remained optimistic about future prospects, adding: "Paise kama lenge aage chalke 100% (we'll earn money in the future 100%)."
Several OTT platforms initially struggled to comprehend the series' unique format, which Chanchlani described as "sketch comedy only; it has that YouTube feel but mixed with storytelling." Interestingly, he revealed rejecting a lucrative offer just before release: "Yes, we were offered a good amount of money. Just 10 days before the release, a very good platform offered me money, and I could have easily cashed out. But I wouldn't have been happy."
Addressing 'Stranger Things' Comparisons
Chanchlani directly responded to viewer comparisons between a telekinesis scene in 'Ekaki' and the finale of Netflix's 'Stranger Things'. "'Stranger Things' finale came on January 1, 2026, and we had shot 'Ekaki' in 2024," he clarified. "The scene where I use telekinesis and lift the alien up is exactly similar, but we wrote that scene three years back. I'm actually happy with the fact that we could match the ideas of the 'Stranger Things' team."
The creator also acknowledged inspiration from Rakesh Roshan's 'Koi... Mil Gaya', noting it as one of the few bold alien-themed films in Hindi cinema history.
Cast and Production Details
Written and directed by Ashish Chanchlani, the series features him in the lead role alongside a supporting cast including:
- Akash Dodeja
- Rohit Sadhwani
- Harsh Rane
- Sidhant Sarfare
- Shashank Shekhar
- Grishim Navani
This ambitious project represents not just a genre shift for Chanchlani, but a statement about creative evolution in digital content creation, demonstrating how established creators can successfully venture into uncharted territory despite financial risks and industry skepticism.
