Ekaki Hits 100 Mn Views: Ashish Chanchlani’s Directorial Debut Is A Digital Blockbuster

Ashish Chanchlani, one of India’s most recognisable digital creators, has entered 2026 on a high. His debut web series Ekaki has officially crossed 100 million views on YouTube, marking a major milestone not just for him, but for creator-led long-form storytelling in India. Released free-to-watch on YouTube via ACV Studios, Ekaki blends horror, comedy, sci-fi and suspense, a sharp departure from the short-format sketches Ashish is best known for. The response has been massive, cutting across age groups and geographies.

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Four Chapters, 100 Million Views

Since its premiere, Ekaki has steadily built momentum with each chapter adding new layers to the story. The series debuted on November 27, 2025, with the second episode following on December 8, 2025.

Viewership figures underline the scale of the response:

• Chapter 1: 37 million views
• Chapter 2: 26 million views
• Chapter 3: 19 million views
• Chapter 4: 18 million views within days of release

With only four chapters released, the cumulative count has already crossed 100 million views, making Ekaki one of the most successful creator-driven web series on YouTube so far.

What Ekaki Is About

The story follows a group of friends who head to a secluded villa for what is meant to be a relaxed getaway. The trip spirals into chaos when they realise the area is haunted, not just by supernatural forces, but by extraterrestrial beings. The mix of jump scares, humour, and sci-fi twists has kept audiences hooked, especially as the tone shifts with each episode.

Many fans have called the fourth chapter the strongest yet, praising its pacing, reveals and darker turn.

Ashish Chanchlani’s Multi-Hyphenate Leap

With Ekaki, Ashish Chanchlani steps into multiple roles, serving as writer, director, producer and lead actor. The project marks his first full-scale move into long-form narrative storytelling, and the response suggests the risk paid off.

Industry watchers have noted the confidence in direction and the scale of ambition, especially for a series released without a paywall or OTT backing.

The Creator Cast: Familiar Faces, New Shades

A big part of Ekaki’s appeal lies in its cast, made up largely of creators audiences already know, but in roles that push them beyond their usual formats.

• Akash Dodeja appears as the parallel lead. Known for his slapstick comedy and exaggerated characters online, he brings a grounded, dramatic edge to Ekaki that many viewers found refreshing.
• Kunal Chhabhria, co-producer on the series, has long been part of Ashish’s core creative circle and is known for his sharp comic timing and behind-the-scenes involvement in ACV projects.
• Jashan Sirwani, who serves as executive producer, has been instrumental in managing the scale and logistics of the production.
• Tanish Sirwani, heading creative direction, helps shape the series’ tonal balance between humour and horror.
• Ashish aka kartik – The brave leader… until panic takes over 
• Shashank aka jashu – The alert one. Always senses danger first.
• Sidhant tanni – Sarcastic, funny, jokes through the fear.
• Rohit aka akash – Overconfident, loud, usually makes it worse.
• Harsh karan – Emotional, fearful, reacts the hardest.
• Grishm aka pinku – Panic-free, logic-first and unofficially holding the group together.

The screenplay is co-written by Grishim Nawani, while Ritesh Sadhwani comes on board as line producer, ensuring the ambitious production stays on track.

Official Update: Chapter 5 Incoming

Confirming the milestone, ACV Studios shared a celebratory post stating, “Four chapters. 100 million views.” The message thanked viewers for trusting the team during the process and hinted at what’s next.

The announcement also confirmed that Chapter 5, titled The Conqueror, is coming soon, with the release date to be announced. The post ended with a line that has since been widely shared by fans: “Picture abhi baaki hai mere Acvians.”

Creators Have Outgrown Short Clips

Ekaki’s success highlights a larger shift in India’s digital ecosystem. Creators are no longer limited to short-form content or platform algorithms. With loyal audiences and creative control, they are building long-form IPs that rival traditional studio-backed projects, without locking viewers behind subscriptions.

As Ashish Chanchlani steps into 2026 with a 100-million-view milestone behind him and new chapters ahead, Ekaki stands as proof that the creator economy is not just about virality anymore. It is about scale, storytelling, and trust built over years.

And if the response so far is any indication, this is only the beginning of Ashish Chanchlani’s next phase.