Adarshatva at 05:57, 18 June 2026

2026-06-18T05:57:27Z

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{{Short description|Indian influencer and activist (born 1994)}}{{Redirect|Rathee}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{infobox youtuber
| name = Dhruv Rathee
| logo =
| image = File:Dhruv Rathee (cropped).jpg
| caption = Rathee in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|10|08}}
| birth_place = [[Rohtak, Haryana]], India
| education = [[Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]]<br>([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]], [[Master of Science|MSc]])
| 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]]}}
| spouse = {{marriage |Juli Lbr|24 November 2021}}
| children = 1
| website = {{URL|https://dhruvrathee.com|dhruvrathee.com}}
| youtube_handle = dhruvrathee
| youtube_display_name = Dhruv Rathee
| youtube_handle2 = dhruvratheevlogs
| youtube_display_name2 = Dhruv Rathee Vlogs
| youtube_handle3 = drshorts
| youtube_display_name3 = Dhruv Rathee Shorts
| youtube_years_active = 2014–present
| youtube_genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Political commentary]]
* [[news]]
* [[vlogs]]}}
| youtube_subscribers = 31.2 million (main channel)<br />
{{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)}}
}}
| 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)}}
}}
| stats_update = 22 February 2026
}}

'''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.

== Early life and education ==
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>

== 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>

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>

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>

{{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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

== Read also ==
* [[Ajeet Bharti]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

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

Dhruv Rathee - Revision history

Adarshatva at 05:57, 18 June 2026