Arunabh Kumar | The Man Who Revolutionized Indian Television Series

Arunabh Kumar is a prominent name in the Indian web series world. He is the founder and former CEO of the leading video-streaming service, The Viral Fever, better known as TVF. Born in Jogiyara, Bihar, Arunabh has been a part of the entertainment industry for over a decade. Prestigious magazines like Fortune, GQ, Entrepreneur, and The Economic Times have listed him in their yearly publications as one of the leading men in the country. Arunabh has developed the famous web series TVF Pitchers. It is one of the most beloved web series among young Indian audiences. 

About

Arunabh Kumar is best known for creating cult hits like Permanent Roommates and TVF Pitchers. He is an IIT Kharagpur alumnus who has made it big in the entertainment industry. He has worked with iconic celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Farah Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sumeet Vyas, Bhuvan Bam, and Prajakta Koli. The YouTube channel Arunabh created for TVF has more than 10 million subscribers. He hails from a small town in Bihar, and his pathway to stardom is inspiring. 

Early Life

On the 26th of November 1982, Arunabh Kumar was born in Jogiyara, Darbhanga, Bihar. Coming from a low-income group, Arunabh spent his childhood in Muzaffarpur. His parents were in the teaching profession. Both of them worked as school principals. Arunabh has two brothers. His parents wanted him to study well. However, providing quality education to Arunabh while living in a small town or village was not possible. Consequently, they moved to several towns and cities to give a better future to him. Finally, the family settled in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Upon moving, Arunabh’s parents admitted him to Vidhyashram school. It was one of the most prestigious schools in Jaipur. 

During his school years, Arunabh participated in extra-curricular activities and often gave inspirational speeches during school projects. He was a confident, ambitious, and intelligent student. Arunabh was never hesitant to speak his mind and supported freedom of speech. From a young age, he showed talent in various academic activities. After completing schooling, Arunabh went to Kota, Rajasthan. In Kota, he did preparations for JEE. His parents wanted him to pursue engineering. As a result, Arunabh was persistent with his studies. He cleared the entrance exam and joined the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, West Bengal. 

Beginning of Career

Upon reaching Kharagpur, Arunabh pursued B.Tech. His life changed completely. He could barely make time for himself. However, he soon discovered the field of movie-making. The entertainment industry intrigued him. Consequently, he started applying for internships to learn more about the field. But, Arunabh felt that taking up a job would benefit him more. As a result, after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Arunabh applied for a research assistant job in the US Air Force.

He got selected, and the job required him to move to Tokyo, Japan. But, Arunabh quit the job in six months because he felt it was not the best choice. After leaving the job, he decided that he wanted to pursue film-making as a career. Simultaneously, he began contacting production houses to get an opportunity. One fine day, famous director Farah Khan came across his letter. She instantly hired him as the assistant director, and Arunabh’s journey began with one of the most prestigious entertainment houses in the country, Red Chillies Entertainment.

Initial Years

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan owns Red Chillies Entertainment. At the time, Farah Khan worked as a director for the movie Om Shanti Om. She was looking for an assistant director and came across Arunabh’s application. While working with Red Chillies Entertainment, Arunabh managed several things. He did everything from taking out printouts to helping with the camera and lighting. He was all over the set. After the filming was over, Arunabh felt that he would find a decent film-making project. But, things did not go the way he planned. He struggled for some time to find a good opportunity.

Later, he began directing and shooting TV commercials and corporate films. Around the same time, he thought about creating a TV show about engineers. Arunabh contacted the famous television channel MTV and pitched his idea. However, MTV rejected his script. He didn’t have enough money to make a show on his own. As a result, he decided to wait and continued working to save money for his project. 

Pathway to Success

Arunabh worked hard for a few years, and finally, in 2010, he launched TVF. It was one of the first video-on-demand services in India. Simultaneously, he created TVF’s YouTube channel. The first video was an MTV Roadies parody. The video garnered thousands of views, and TVF started gaining recognition in the entertainment world. There was no looking back for Arunabh after creating TVF. Between 2012- 2022, the platform outperformed hundreds of Indian shows and gained a cult following. Shows like Permanent Roommates, TVF Pitchers, Tripling, Flames, Yeh Meri Family, Kota Factory, and Gullak achieved remarkable success, and Arunabh became a prominent name in the cinematic world. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arunabh Kumar (@arunabhkumar)

Also read: Gaurav Munjal | Success Story of the Man Behind Unacademy