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{{short description|Indian YouTuber and social media activist}}
{{Short description|Indian influencer and activist (born 1994)}}{{Redirect|Rathee}}
{{About|the Indian YouTuber||Dhruv (disambiguation){{!}}Dhruv}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
 
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2021}}
{{infobox youtuber
{{POV|date=July 2021|talk=Article not neutral}}
}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name                = Dhruv Rathee
| name                = Dhruv Rathee
| logo                =  
| logo                =  
| image                = Dhruv Rathee.jpg
| image                = File:Dhruv Rathee (cropped).jpg
| caption              = Rathee during an interview in 2019
| caption              = Rathee in 2019
| birth_name          =
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|10|08}}
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1994|10|8|df=y}}
| birth_place          = [[Rohtak, Haryana]], India
| birth_place          = [[Haryana]], India<ref name=yt>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdIsr4EZeuU Who is Dhruv Rathee? ''YouTube'']</ref>
| education            = [[Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]]<br>([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]], [[Master of Science|MSc]])
| nationality          = Indian
| occupation          = {{hlist|[[YouTuber]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/culture/year-comedians-took-politics-seriously|title=The Year Indian Comedians Took Politics Seriously|website=The Wire|access-date=7 July 2020|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708011724/https://thewire.in/culture/year-comedians-took-politics-seriously|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Vlogger]]|[[Activist]]}}
| occupation          = [[YouTuber]], [[Vlogger]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/culture/year-comedians-took-politics-seriously|title=The Year Indian Comedians Took Politics Seriously|website=The Wire}}</ref>
| spouse              = {{marriage |Juli Lbr|24 November 2021}}
| channel_display_name = Dhruv Rathee
| children            = 1
| channel_direct_url  = user/dhruvrathee
| website              = {{URL|https://dhruvrathee.com|dhruvrathee.com}}
| pseudonym            =  
| youtube_handle        = dhruvrathee
| subscribers          = 5.54 million (Dhruv Rathee)<br> 838 thousand (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs) <!--Dhruv Rathee: 5.54 million <br> Dhruv Rathee Vlogs: 838 thousand-->
| youtube_display_name  = Dhruv Rathee
| views                = 533 million (Dhruv Rathee)<br> 68.2 million (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs)
| youtube_handle2      = dhruvratheevlogs
| view_date            =
| youtube_display_name2 = Dhruv Rathee Vlogs
| stats_update        = 9 June 2021
| youtube_handle3      = drshorts
| silver_button        = yes
| youtube_display_name3 = Dhruv Rathee Shorts
| silver_year          = 2017 (Dhruv Rathee)<br> 2020 (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs)
| youtube_years_active  = 2014–present
| gold_button          = yes
| youtube_genre        = {{flatlist|
| gold_year            = 2018(Dhruv Rathee)
* [[Political commentary]]
| location            = India-Germany
* [[news]]
| genre                =[[Political commentary]], [[News]]
* [[vlogs]]}}
| Culture              =
| youtube_subscribers  = 31.2 million (main channel)<br />
| Religion            =  
{{Rounddown|{{Sum|31.2|4.45|3.45}}|2}} million (combined){{efn|
Subscribers, broken down by channel:{{blist
|31.2 million (Dhruv Rathee)
|4.85 million (Dhruv Rathee Shorts)
|3.45 million (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs)}}
}}<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| youtube_views        = 5.22 billion (main channel)<br />
{{Rounddown|{{Sum|3.65|1.89|0.52}}|2}} billion (combined){{efn|
Views, broken down by channel:{{blist
|5.22 billion (Dhruv Rathee)
|2.30 billion (Dhruv Rathee Shorts)
|603 million (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs)}}
}}<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| stats_update        = 22 February 2026
}}
}}
'''Dhruv Rathee''' (born 8 October 1994)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet Dhruv Rathee, the 23-year-old YouTuber whose videos are infuriating Modi's admirers|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/878470/meet-dhruv-rathee-the-23-year-old-youtuber-who-is-fighting-the-right-wing-one-video-at-a-time|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Scroll.in|language=en}}</ref> is an Indian [[YouTuber]] and social media activist<ref>{{Cite web|title='Fake news' friend arrested|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/39-fake-news-39-friend-arrested/cid/1340345|access-date=2020-07-08|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> known for his controversial [[political commentary]].<ref>{{cite news|date=26 May 2019|title=Poulami Nag to Dhruv Rathee: The YouTubers India subscribes to|language=en|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/fun-facts-and-you-youtubers-bhuvan-bam-bb-ki-vines-dhruv-rathee-ramit-verma-poulami-nag-5744397/|access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-03-28|title=#BBCRiverStories: बिहार की राजनीति में कितनी अहम है जाति?|language=hi|work=BBC News हिंदी|url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-47730613|access-date=2020-07-08}}</ref> He started his political analyst career supporting the [[Aam Aadmi Party|AAP]] party, and is known for his liberal views. He has been guest to many podcasts on YouTube including the Ranveer Show Hindi and Hustler's Bay.<ref>{{Citation|title=ProInsights with Aman Dhattarwal #3 - Dhruv Rathee {{!}} Hustlers Bay|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGXZBlKgZ8|language=en|access-date=2021-07-21}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Dhruv Rathee Exposed Like Never Before {{!}} The Ranveer Show हिंदी 23|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68TeWVrEj5Q|language=en|access-date=2021-07-21}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
'''Dhruv Rathee''' (born 8 October 1994, {{IPA|hi|d̪ʰrʊʋ raːʈʰiː}}) is an Indian [[Activist|influencer]] and [[activism|social media activist]] based in [[Berlin]], Germany. He is known for his [[YouTuber|YouTube]] videos on social, political, and environmental issues. As of June 2025, he has over 36 million subscribers and 7 billion views across all of his channels.
Rathee was born in [[Haryana]]. He considers himself as a [[Hindu atheism|Hindu Atheist]], though still connected to the [[Hinduism|Hindu Culture]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Coffin with Karan Episode 8 ft. @Dhruv Rathee|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4f1z5EjjIQ|language=en|access-date=2021-07-22}}</ref> He completed his schooling in Haryana, and considers [[Haryanavi]] as his native language.<ref name=yt/> He obtained his [[mechanical engineering]] [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Germany]],<ref name=yt/> where he also completed his master's specialised in [[renewable energy]].<ref name="DW">{{cite news |last=Krishnan |first=Murali |title=Space for media freedom rapidly shrinking in India: Dhruv Rathee |url=https://www.dw.com/en/space-for-media-freedom-rapidly-shrinking-in-india-dhruv-rathee/a-49232009 |access-date=26 July 2020 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200626145502/https://www.dw.com/en/space-for-media-freedom-rapidly-shrinking-in-india-dhruv-rathee/a-49232009 |archive-date=26 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=freepress>{{cite web |title=From 'practising Hindu atheist' to 'All Lives Matter': Who exactly is Dhruv Rathee? |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/from-practising-hindu-atheist-to-all-lives-matter-who-exactly-is-dhruv-rathee |website=Free Press Journal |language=en|access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref> Apart from his formal education, he has developed keen interest and knowledge in [[Political science|Political Science]], [[Political philosophy|Political Philosophy]] and [[Economics]] areas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dhruv Rathee|url=https://dhruvrathee.com/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=dhruvrathee.com}}</ref>


==Career==
== Early life and education ==
In 2014, Rathee released a debut video on his channel, titled "BJP Exposed: Lies Behind The Bullshit", targeting [[Narendra Modi]]'s government that had been elected earlier that year. In 2016, Rathee earned online visibility after he "debunked" YouTuber Ajay Sehrawat's claims of [[Arvind Kejriwal]]'s "ineffective" administration. Rathee said, "When I saw people sharing Ajay Sehrawat’s videos without checking the facts, I realised the need to present actual research in front of them so that they understand the truth."<ref name=scroll/> His political analysis encompases wide range of national issues, while being highly critical of the [[Narendra Modi]] government and the [[Hindutva]] politics.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-19|title=WATCH: Popular YouTuber breaks down Delhi political standoff between Arvind Kejriwal and L-G Anil Baijal - Politics News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/watch-popular-youtuber-breaks-down-delhi-political-standoff-between-arvind-kejriwal-and-l-g-anil-baijal-4540331.html|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gauri Lankesh's Final Editorial: 'In the Age of False News'|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/gauri-lankesh-final-editorial-fake-news|access-date=2020-07-08|website=The Wire}}</ref>
Dhruv Rathee was born on 8 October 1994 to a Haryanvi [[Hindu]] family in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Haryana]]. He completed his primary education in Haryana before pursuing higher education in Germany, completing a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[mechanical engineering]] and a master's degree in [[renewable energy]] from the [[Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='Persistence and patience are the hallmarks of success': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/jun/07/interview--persistence-and-patience-are-the-hallmarks-of-success-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-2152288.html |access-date=12 February 2023|website=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=6 June 2020 |archive-date=12 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212091245/https://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/2020/jun/07/interview--persistence-and-patience-are-the-hallmarks-of-success-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-2152288.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="freepress">{{cite web |title=From 'practising Hindu atheist' to 'All Lives Matter': Who exactly is Dhruv Rathee? |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/from-practising-hindu-atheist-to-all-lives-matter-who-exactly-is-dhruv-rathee |access-date=9 June 2020 |website=[[Free Press Journal]] |language=en |archive-date=9 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609093045/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/from-practising-hindu-atheist-to-all-lives-matter-who-exactly-is-dhruv-rathee |url-status=live }}</ref>


Rathee released a series of fact-checking videos on his YouTube channel covering various topics including [[2016 Uri attack]], [[2016 Indian Line of Control strike]], [[2016 Indian banknote demonetisation]] and [[Gurmehar Kaur]] row. He launched ''Pee News'', a satire "fake news" segment, in which he criticised BJP and [[Hindutva]] politics. He started a series called ''The Dhruv Rathee Show'' in which he continued to be critical of the central government.<ref name=scroll>{{cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Devarsi |title=Meet Dhruv Rathee, the 23-year-old YouTuber whose videos are infuriating Modi's admirers |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/878470/meet-dhruv-rathee-the-23-year-old-youtuber-who-is-fighting-the-right-wing-one-video-at-a-time |website=Scroll.in|access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref>
== Career ==
Rathee is mainly known for his political videos,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Year Indian Comedians Took Politics Seriously |url=https://thewire.in/culture/year-comedians-took-politics-seriously |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708011724/https://thewire.in/culture/year-comedians-took-politics-seriously |archive-date=8 July 2020 |access-date=7 July 2020 |website=The Wire}}</ref> which mainly contain [[fact-checking]] and explanatory content.<ref name="time2">{{cite magazine |last1=Rajvanshi |first1=Astha |title=Fact-Checking Indian Media Is Tough. Dhruv Rathee Uses Youtube to Do It |url=https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6317267/dhruv-rathee/ |magazine=[[TIME]] |access-date=6 October 2023 |language=en |date=5 October 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005232110/https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6317267/dhruv-rathee/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[ThePrint]]'', Rathee was one of the first Indian users to use YouTube as a political platform. He began uploading travel videos in 2013, but by the end of the year, he shifted his focus towards political and social topics.<ref name="freepress2">{{Cite web |title=Who Is YouTuber Dhruv Rathee? Indian Creator's Net Worth Is Rs 27 crore, Takes Home Rs 48 Lakh Every Month |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/who-is-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-indian-creator-whose-recent-dictatorship-in-india-video-is-going-viral |access-date=23 March 2024 |website=[[Free Press Journal]] |language=en}}</ref>


Since 2017, he has been writing opinion columns for [[ThePrint]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dhruv Rathee, Author at ThePrint |url=https://theprint.in/author/dhruv-rathee/ |website=ThePrint |access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref> Currently, he lives in [[Germany]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
Alongside his serious content, Rathee launched ''Pee News'', a satirical "[[fake news]]" segment.<ref name=scroll>{{cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Devarsi |title=Meet Dhruv Rathee, the 23-year-old YouTuber whose videos are infuriating Modi's admirers |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/878470/meet-dhruv-rathee-the-23-year-old-youtuber-who-is-fighting-the-right-wing-one-video-at-a-time |website=Scroll.in |date=16 May 2018 |access-date=9 June 2020 |archive-date=8 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608122330/https://scroll.in/magazine/878470/meet-dhruv-rathee-the-23-year-old-youtuber-who-is-fighting-the-right-wing-one-video-at-a-time |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, from 2017 until early 2020, Rathee wrote opinion columns for ''[[ThePrint]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dhruv Rathee, Author at ThePrint |url=https://theprint.in/author/dhruv-rathee/ |website=ThePrint |date=11 February 2020 |access-date=9 June 2020 |archive-date=23 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423145903/https://theprint.in/author/dhruv-rathee/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Allegations ==
In July 2020, Rathee began another YouTube channel called ''Dhruv Rathee Vlogs'', where he shares his international [[Vlog|travel vlogs]]. In addition to his vlogs, Rathee hosts various shows, including DW Travel of ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'' and ''Decode with Dhruv'' of [[Netflix India]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 October 2020 |title=Money Heist: Dhruv Rathee decodes Netflix's 'Spanish Masala Blockbuster' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/money-heist-dhruv-rathee-decodes-netflix-spanish-masala-blockbuster-6907320/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2021 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027072948/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/money-heist-dhruv-rathee-decodes-netflix-spanish-masala-blockbuster-6907320/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also hosts a podcast on [[Spotify]] called ''Maha Bharat with Dhruv Rathee''.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=19 March 2023|title=YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Talks About Entering Into Audio Space, Says 'Podcasts Have Small But Dedicated Audience' - Exclusive|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/youtuber-dhruv-rathee-talks-about-entering-into-audio-space-says-podcasts-have-small-but-dedicated-audience-exclusive-6313525.html|date=9 November 2022|website=News18|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319202425/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/youtuber-dhruv-rathee-talks-about-entering-into-audio-space-says-podcasts-have-small-but-dedicated-audience-exclusive-6313525.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  
Alleged fake news charges came up against Rathee in March 2020, when he mentioned on [[Twitter]] that Modi sold 170,000 hectares of "most dense forests in India" to [[Adani Group]]. He deleted the tweet after Adani Group threatened to file a defamation suit against him.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halarnkar |first1=Samar |title=In an ancient land, a forest's impending destruction threatens India's future |url=https://scroll.in/article/917537/in-an-ancient-land-a-forests-impending-destruction-threatens-indias-future |website=Scroll.in|access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref>


In June 2020, Rathee called the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement's name as "biased", claiming that it "favours blacks", and compared it to the [[feminist movement]]'s name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Slammed for saying 'All Lives Matter', Dhruv Rathee compares 'liberals to BJP supporters' |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/slammed-for-saying-all-lives-matter-dhruv-rathee-compares-liberals-to-bjp-supporters |work=Free Press Journal |language=en|access-date=9 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gupta |first1=Dyuti |title=Dhruv Rathee And The Privileged's Perspective on Black Lives |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/top-stories/opinion/dhruv-rathee-and-the-privilegeds-perspective-on-black-lives/ |website=SheThePeople TV |access-date=9 June 2020 |date=8 June 2020}}</ref>
{{As of|2022|2}}, Rathee has a [[YouTube Shorts]] channel to share 30-seconds fact videos, offering a quick and accessible way for viewers to engage with the information he presents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dhruv Rathee Shorts |url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCw4IHIMsDO5wpIiprOSXiEA |access-date=4 January 2023 |website=Social Blade |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104071407/https://socialblade.com/youtube/channel/UCw4IHIMsDO5wpIiprOSXiEA |url-status=live }}</ref> On 18 April 2024, Rathee announced five new YouTube channels focusing on publishing [[Dubbing|dubbed videos]] in five [[Languages of India|Indian regional languages]]: [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], and [[Kannada language|Kannada]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. N. M. |date=4 April 2024 |title=Dhruv Rathee starts YouTube channels in five languages including Tamil, Telugu and Kannada |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/dhruv-rathee-starts-youtube-channels-in-five-languages-including-tamil-telugu-and-kannada |access-date=21 April 2024 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>


Further in November 2020, Rathhe got into an online spat with actress [[Kangana Ranaut]], who responded to Dhruv Rathee's viral video about her and claimed that he took significant amount of money to make it. In his video, Dhruv had complained about how [[Kangana Ranaut|Kangana]] is hypocritical in her statements and has a propensity of embellishing her comments. She also said " I can put YouTuber Dhruv Rathee behind bars for making a video on her and lying about BMC sending her a notice in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-01|title=Kangana Ranaut calls YouTuber Dhruv Rathee ‘dimwit’ for making video on her: ‘I can get him behind bars for lying’|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-calls-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-dimwit-for-making-video-on-her-i-can-get-him-behind-bars-for-lying/story-l3jw09zEUn1tfrUQCJ1mvL.html|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-02|title=Kangana Ranaut Vs BMC फिर हुआ ट्रेंड, इस यूट्यूबर पर लगा गंभीर आरोप|url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/entertainment/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-vs-bmc-trends-again-and-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-is-the-reason/778256|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Zee News Hindi|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kangana Ranaut Slams Dhruv Rathee: ध्रुव राठी के वीडियो पर कंगना रनोट का पलटवार, कही ये बात|url=https://www.jagran.com/entertainment/bollywood-kangana-ranaut-slams-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-video-on-her-says-she-will-get-him-behind-bars-for-lying-about-bmc-notice-on-her-house-21001079.html|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Dainik Jagran|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-02|title=Kangana Ranaut bashes YouTuber Dhruv Rathee for 'lying about BMC notice' in his video|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-kangana-ranaut-bashes-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-for-lying-about-bmc-notice-in-his-video-2853931|access-date=2021-06-09|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=यूट्यूबर ध्रुव राठी पर भड़कीं कंगना रणौत, बोलीं- 'मैं उसे जेल भिजवा सकती हूं'|url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-accused-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-says-i-can-get-him-behind-jail-for-spreading-fake-news|access-date=2021-06-09|website=Amar Ujala|language=hi}}</ref>
In 2023, Rathee was included in [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']]'s list of [[Next Generation Leaders]].<ref name="time1">{{Cite web |last1=Anand |first1=Nisha |date=6 October 2023 |title=Dhruv Rathee among TIME Magazine's 'next generation leaders 2023'; YouTuber reacts |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dhruv-rathee-among-time-magazine-s-next-generation-leaders-2023-youtuber-reacts-101696577610903.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007071736/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dhruv-rathee-among-time-magazine-s-next-generation-leaders-2023-youtuber-reacts-101696577610903.html |archive-date=7 October 2023 |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="time22">{{cite magazine |last1=Rajvanshi |first1=Astha |date=5 October 2023 |title=Fact-Checking Indian Media Is Tough. Dhruv Rathee Uses Youtube to Do It |url=https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6317267/dhruv-rathee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005232110/https://time.com/collection/next-generation-leaders/6317267/dhruv-rathee/ |archive-date=5 October 2023 |access-date=6 October 2023 |magazine=[[TIME]] |language=en}}</ref>


==See also==
In September 2022, he faced controversy when a video he posted about Pakistan's [[Cabinet crisis|political crisis]] was blocked by India's [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] for including a map of India that does not align with India's national position on [[Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quint |first=The |date=26 September 2022 |title=Govt Removes 45 YouTube Videos, Including Dhruv Rathee's, For Spreading 'Lies' |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/youtuber-dhruv-rathees-video-among-45-posts-pulled-down-by-centre-for-spreading-lies-about-agnipath-scheme |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=TheQuint |language=en |archive-date=29 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929073646/https://www.thequint.com/news/india/youtuber-dhruv-rathees-video-among-45-posts-pulled-down-by-centre-for-spreading-lies-about-agnipath-scheme |url-status=live}}</ref>  Following the [[2025 Pahalgam attack]], Rathee was the subject of backlash when Pakistani news channels aired clips of his video which criticized the Indian government's security failures; Rathee claimed that the clips were misused.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mukhopadhyay |first=Sounak |date=2025-05-10 |title=Dhruv Rathee accuses Pakistani channels of misusing his 'clips', slams influencer for calling him out {{!}} Mint |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/dhruv-rathee-accuses-pakistani-channels-of-misusing-his-clips-slams-influencer-for-calling-him-out-11746858437952.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512121215/https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/dhruv-rathee-accuses-pakistani-channels-of-misusing-his-clips-slams-influencer-for-calling-him-out-11746858437952.html |archive-date=2025-05-12 |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=mint |language=en}}</ref>
* [[List of YouTubers]]


==External  links==
In March 2023, Rathee faced copyright charges from [[Dabur]] on his video titled "The dark-side of cold drinks". The [[Calcutta High Court]] ordered social media platforms to remove the video.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calcutta HC orders social media platforms to take down video of Dhruv Rathee mocking Real fruit juice |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-calcutta-hc-orders-social-media-platforms-to-take-down-video-of-dhruv-rathee-denigrating-real-fruit-juice-3032940 |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=DNA India |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031012943/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-calcutta-hc-orders-social-media-platforms-to-take-down-video-of-dhruv-rathee-denigrating-real-fruit-juice-3032940 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM4BnpbCGMw&ab_channel=DhruvRathee Ravish Kumar Interviews Dhruv Rathee on NDTV Prime Time]


==References==
In May 2025, Rathee faced controversy from the [[Sikhs|Sikh]] community for posting an AI-generated thumbnail in a new video, titled ''"The Rise of Sikhs"'', which primarily focused on the first Sikh ruler, [[Banda Singh Bahadur]]. The video received widespread condemnation from the Sikh community, including the [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee]] President, for depicting AI-generated visuals of the Sikh gurus. Following the backlash, Rathee removed the video from his YouTube channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/youtuber-dhruv-rathee-video-sikh-history-objections-10015928/ |title=YouTuber Dhruv Rathee takes down video on Sikh history after objections|work=The Times of India |date=19 May 2025|via=The Indian Express}}</ref>
 
== Personal life ==
Rathee is a resident of Germany. In November 2021, Rathee married his long-time partner Juli Lbr at the [[Belvedere, Vienna|Belvedere Palace]], in [[Vienna]], Austria.<ref name="news18">{{Cite web|date=28 November 2021|title=Love Across Borders: Indian YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Marries German Girlfriend Juli at Vienna|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/dhruv-rathee-marries-girlfriend-juli-vienna-palace-indian-youtuber-4495205.html|url-status=live|access-date=1 January 2022|website=[[News18]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128140441/https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/dhruv-rathee-marries-girlfriend-juli-vienna-palace-indian-youtuber-4495205.html |archive-date=28 November 2021 }}</ref> Their first child was born in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2024 |title=Dhruv Rathee announces birth of first child with sweet photos; fans celebrate new arrival |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/dhruv-rathee-announces-birth-of-first-child-with-sweet-photos-fans-celebrate-new-arrival/articleshow/113552972.cms?from=mdr |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=[[The Economic Times]] |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=दुबे |first=स्नेहा |date=21 September 2024 |script-title=hi:फेमस यूट्यूबर ध्रुव राठी बने पापा, शेयर की बेबी बॉय की प्यारी सी तस्वीर |url=https://www.abplive.com/entertainment/ott/dhruv-rathee-became-father-of-a-boy-he-shared-new-born-baby-first-photo-2788398 |access-date=21 September 2024 |website= |language=hi}}</ref>
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://dhruvrathee.com/ Official website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/@dhruvrathee Dhruv Rathee's Channel] on [[YouTube]]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Internet|India}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathee, Dhruv}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathee, Dhruv}}
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Indian atheists]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Germany]]
[[Category:Indian mechanical engineers]]
[[Category:Indian YouTubers]]
[[Category:Indian YouTubers]]
[[Category:Karlsruhe Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People associated with renewable energy]]
[[Category:People from Haryana]]
[[Category:People from Haryana]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Germany]]
[[Category:Indian journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:1994 births]]
[[Category:People from Rohtak]]
[[Category:Hindi-language YouTube channels]]
[[Category:Indian podcasters]]

Revision as of 01:41, 17 March 2026

"Rathee" redirects here. For other uses, see Rathee (disambiguation).

Dhruv Rathee
Rathee in 2019
Born (1994-10-08) 8 October 1994 (age 31)
Rohtak, Haryana, India
EducationKarlsruhe Institute of Technology
(BSc, MSc)
Occupation
Spouse(s)
Juli Lbr
(
m. 2021)
Children1
YouTube information
Channels
Years active2014–present
Genres
Subscribers31.2 million (main channel)
39.1 million (combined)[lower-alpha 1]
Views5.22 billion (main channel)
6.06 billion (combined)[lower-alpha 2]
Last updated: 22 February 2026
Websitedhruvrathee.com

Dhruv Rathee (born 8 October 1994, hi) is an Indian influencer and social media activist based in Berlin, Germany. He is known for his YouTube videos on social, political, and environmental issues. As of June 2025, he has over 36 million subscribers and 7 billion views across all of his channels.

Early life and education

Dhruv Rathee was born on 8 October 1994 to a Haryanvi Hindu family in the Indian state of Haryana. He completed his primary education in Haryana before pursuing higher education in Germany, completing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in renewable energy from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.[2][3]

Career

Rathee is mainly known for his political videos,[4] which mainly contain fact-checking and explanatory content.[5] According to ThePrint, Rathee was one of the first Indian users to use YouTube as a political platform. He began uploading travel videos in 2013, but by the end of the year, he shifted his focus towards political and social topics.[6]

Alongside his serious content, Rathee launched Pee News, a satirical "fake news" segment.[7] Additionally, from 2017 until early 2020, Rathee wrote opinion columns for ThePrint.[8]

In July 2020, Rathee began another YouTube channel called Dhruv Rathee Vlogs, where he shares his international travel vlogs. In addition to his vlogs, Rathee hosts various shows, including DW Travel of Deutsche Welle and Decode with Dhruv of Netflix India.[9] He also hosts a podcast on Spotify called Maha Bharat with Dhruv Rathee.[10]

As of February 2022, Rathee has a YouTube Shorts channel to share 30-seconds fact videos, offering a quick and accessible way for viewers to engage with the information he presents.[11] On 18 April 2024, Rathee announced five new YouTube channels focusing on publishing dubbed videos in five Indian regional languages: Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, and Kannada.[12]

In 2023, Rathee was included in Time's list of Next Generation Leaders.[13][14]

In September 2022, he faced controversy when a video he posted about Pakistan's political crisis was blocked by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for including a map of India that does not align with India's national position on Kashmir.[15] Following the 2025 Pahalgam attack, Rathee was the subject of backlash when Pakistani news channels aired clips of his video which criticized the Indian government's security failures; Rathee claimed that the clips were misused.[16]

In March 2023, Rathee faced copyright charges from Dabur on his video titled "The dark-side of cold drinks". The Calcutta High Court ordered social media platforms to remove the video.[17]

In May 2025, Rathee faced controversy from the Sikh community for posting an AI-generated thumbnail in a new video, titled "The Rise of Sikhs", which primarily focused on the first Sikh ruler, Banda Singh Bahadur. The video received widespread condemnation from the Sikh community, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President, for depicting AI-generated visuals of the Sikh gurus. Following the backlash, Rathee removed the video from his YouTube channel.[18]

Personal life

Rathee is a resident of Germany. In November 2021, Rathee married his long-time partner Juli Lbr at the Belvedere Palace, in Vienna, Austria.[19] Their first child was born in September 2024.[20][21]

Notes

  1. ↑ Subscribers, broken down by channel:
    • 31.2 million (Dhruv Rathee)
    • 4.85 million (Dhruv Rathee Shorts)
    • 3.45 million (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs)
  2. ↑ Views, broken down by channel:
    • 5.22 billion (Dhruv Rathee)
    • 2.30 billion (Dhruv Rathee Shorts)
    • 603 million (Dhruv Rathee Vlogs)

References

  1. ↑ "The Year Indian Comedians Took Politics Seriously". The Wire. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "'Persistence and patience are the hallmarks of success': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee". The New Indian Express. 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "From 'practising Hindu atheist' to 'All Lives Matter': Who exactly is Dhruv Rathee?". Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "The Year Indian Comedians Took Politics Seriously". The Wire. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Rajvanshi, Astha (5 October 2023). "Fact-Checking Indian Media Is Tough. Dhruv Rathee Uses Youtube to Do It". TIME. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "Who Is YouTuber Dhruv Rathee? Indian Creator's Net Worth Is Rs 27 crore, Takes Home Rs 48 Lakh Every Month". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Ghosh, Devarsi (16 May 2018). "Meet Dhruv Rathee, the 23-year-old YouTuber whose videos are infuriating Modi's admirers". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Dhruv Rathee, Author at ThePrint". ThePrint. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "Money Heist: Dhruv Rathee decodes Netflix's 'Spanish Masala Blockbuster'". The Indian Express. 31 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Talks About Entering Into Audio Space, Says 'Podcasts Have Small But Dedicated Audience' - Exclusive". News18. 9 November 2022. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Dhruv Rathee Shorts". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Staff, T. N. M. (4 April 2024). "Dhruv Rathee starts YouTube channels in five languages including Tamil, Telugu and Kannada". The News Minute. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  13. ↑ Anand, Nisha (6 October 2023). "Dhruv Rathee among TIME Magazine's 'next generation leaders 2023'; YouTuber reacts". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Rajvanshi, Astha (5 October 2023). "Fact-Checking Indian Media Is Tough. Dhruv Rathee Uses Youtube to Do It". TIME. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Quint, The (26 September 2022). "Govt Removes 45 YouTube Videos, Including Dhruv Rathee's, For Spreading 'Lies'". TheQuint. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  16. ↑ Mukhopadhyay, Sounak (10 May 2025). "Dhruv Rathee accuses Pakistani channels of misusing his 'clips', slams influencer for calling him out | Mint". mint. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  17. ↑ "Calcutta HC orders social media platforms to take down video of Dhruv Rathee mocking Real fruit juice". DNA India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "YouTuber Dhruv Rathee takes down video on Sikh history after objections". The Times of India. 19 May 2025 – via The Indian Express.
  19. ↑ "Love Across Borders: Indian YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Marries German Girlfriend Juli at Vienna". News18. 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Dhruv Rathee announces birth of first child with sweet photos; fans celebrate new arrival". The Economic Times. 21 September 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  21. ↑ दुबे, स्नेहा (21 September 2024). फेमस यूट्यूबर ध्रुव राठी बने पापा, शेयर की बेबी बॉय की प्यारी सी तस्वीर (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 21 September 2024.

External links

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