While many influencers rely on paid campaigns and heavy brand integrations to scale their reach, content creator Raunaq Sahni, popularly known as Monkey Magic, did it by doing the exact opposite. Over the span of just 30 days, Sahni grew his YouTube subscriber count by over 1.5 lakh and amassed nearly 1 lakh new Instagram followers—all while travelling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari without spending a single rupee.
Instead of glitzy collaborations or influencer road trips funded by sponsors, this journey was driven by a different currency: skill, hustle and people. Sahni had Rs 1 lakh in his pocket, but vowed not to spend a single paisa of it. If he successfully completed the journey without using the money, he promised to donate the entire amount.
Spoiler: he didn’t spend a paisa.
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A Filmmaker’s Lens And A Creator’s Grind
Armed with a camera and a knack for storytelling, Sahni turned everyday encounters into high-quality, story-led videos. Whether it was clicking polaroids on the streets of Delhi or shooting reels for small businesses in Mumbai, Sahni used content creation as a literal means of survival. In one day alone in Mumbai, he made Rs 15,500 by helping three shops with digital content—without ever mentioning his influencer status.
Across the journey, he earned nearly Rs 18,500 by working odd jobs: video gigs, portraits, and quick edits. The earnings covered all his food, travel, and stay—temples, ghats, roadside shelters—ensuring his Rs 1 lakh donation pledge stayed untouched.
His management confirmed that Sahni earns between Rs 0.8 to Rs 1.2 per view (CPV) on brand collaborations. With growing loyalty and sharp storytelling, he’s already working with brands like Google, Axis Life Insurance, and multiple smartphone and cinematography firms.
No Brand Support, No Team Cars
Despite the soaring numbers, Sahni clarified that no brand backed the journey. “This was a personal project. I’ve
done sponsored content before, but this time, I didn’t want any brand to fund even a part of it,” he said.
Inspired by U.S. creator Ryan Trahan’s penny challenge, Sahni adapted the idea to the Indian context. “I wasn’t just trading coins or products. I was walking by rivers, getting tea from strangers, and hearing stories from across the country. It was raw. Emotional. Something you can’t fake,” he shared.
The Cost Of Authenticity
Behind the clean edits and captivating visuals was a constant grind. Sahni had no crew with him, but a small team of editors helped him push out one episode a day throughout the journey. “Creating real-time content every day was brutal. I was on the road, shooting all day, then on calls with editors by night,” he said.
The attention brought its own pressure, too. With the rise of AI-generated content and repurposed viral clips, Sahni welcomed the recent shift in platform algorithms that reward originality. “If someone’s copying my work, that’s not okay. I’m glad YouTube is valuing creators who build something real. That’s what needs visibility now,” he said.
Not About Virality—It’s About Discomfort
At the heart of his content is an emotional undercurrent: discomfort. Whether sleeping in a tiny temple where he couldn’t stretch his legs or walking miles with no certainty of a bed, Sahni believes growth lies in unease.
“Everything I do is to push people—and myself—out of comfort zones. If something scares you, do it once. That’s where real change begins,” he said.
Not Your Typical Travel Influencer
It would be easy to classify Sahni as a travel vlogger. But he doesn’t identify with the label. A trained screenwriter from FTII, Sahni said travel for him is research. “I travel to meet people. When I sit down to write a character, I want it to feel lived. That’s what this journey gave me—truth,” he said.
His YouTube channel, Monkey Magic, was started during school as a hobby. The name came from his childhood nickname, 'Bandar'. A decade later, it's evolved into a growing digital platform rooted in realism, not performative virality.
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