Digital superstar Ashish Chanchlani has officially announced his Prime Video India debut through a groundbreaking collaboration with The Viral Fever (TVF). The acclaimed YouTube creator-filmmaker will star in College Fest, a Gen-Z zombie horror-comedy set during a chaotic campus festival, marking his first streaming film appearance on Prime Video. The project was unveiled at Prime Video Presents, signaling the platform’s commitment to elevating digital creators into mainstream streaming entertainment. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Chanchlani’s evolution from YouTube sensation to mainstream streaming star, following the critical and audience success of his horror-comedy series Ekaki on YouTube.
Table of Contents
College Fest: The Project Details
College Fest presents a fresh genre fusion, blending campus comedy with horror elements in a narrative that captures contemporary Gen-Z culture. The film’s premise centers on a mysterious infection that transforms students into zombies during a college festival, forcing a group of students to confront real-world consequences and literal “brain rot” before their entire campus collapses.

| College Fest Production Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Production Company | The Viral Fever (TVF) |
| Streaming Platform | Prime Video India |
| Genre | Zombie Horror-Comedy |
| Director | Vaibhav Bandhoo |
| Writer | Arunabh Kumar |
| Producers | Arunabh Kumar, Vijay Koshy |
| Lead Actor | Ashish Chanchlani |
| Setting | Gen-Z Engineering Campus |
| Announcement | Prime Video Presents 2026 (March 19) |
| Themes | Brain Rot Culture, Social Media Commentary |
The film cleverly interweaves campus comedy traditions with commentary on brain rot culture and social media hysteria, positioning itself as both entertainment and cultural commentary on contemporary youth experiences.
Ashish Chanchlani’s Career Trajectory
Chanchlani’s journey from YouTube phenomenon to mainstream streaming represents the evolving landscape of Indian entertainment. His YouTube channel, Ashish Chanchlani Vines, has established him as India’s biggest digital star with massive audience following.
| Ashish Chanchlani Career Evolution | Milestones |
|---|---|
| YouTube Channel Start | 2014 |
| Content Type | Comedy sketches and short films |
| Ekaki Series Launch | 2025 (5-part horror-comedy) |
| Ekaki Views | 145+ million views collectively |
| Ekaki Roles | Director, producer, writer, and star |
| Prime Video Debut | College Fest (2026) |
| Career Focus | Transitioning from short-form to feature content |
| Digital Influence | India’s biggest digital star status |

Ekaki, his ambitious five-part horror-comedy series released on YouTube, amassed 145 million views collectively. The series showcased Chanchlani’s multifaceted talents as he wore multiple hats—director, producer, writer, and star—earning critical praise for his technical finesse and depth of storytelling.
TVF’s Strategic Partnership
The collaboration between Chanchlani and TVF represents a strategic partnership merging digital creator talent with established production expertise. TVF has built a reputation for understanding youth culture through lived-in detail, a sensibility now being amplified into bigger, more cinematic genre storytelling through College Fest.
Arunabh Kumar’s involvement as writer and producer signals TVF’s commitment to quality storytelling that respects the source material while expanding creative horizons. The choice of director Vaibhav Bandhoo brings fresh vision to the campus setting, transforming familiar college ecosystem dynamics into horror-driven spectacle.
The Creator-to-Mainstream Pipeline
Chanchlani’s move to Prime Video reflects a broader industry shift where digital creators are transitioning into mainstream streaming content. This evolution demonstrates audience recognition of creator talent and platforms’ increased investment in creator-driven projects. The pipeline from YouTube to Prime Video validates creator audiences and their willingness to follow talent across platforms.
Ekaki Success and Transition
Ekaki’s success established Chanchlani as capable of delivering high-quality longer-form content beyond short sketches. The series featured sophisticated practical effects created by Chida’s FX Studio (known for films like Kalki 2898 AD and Sam Bahadur), demonstrating Chanchlani’s commitment to production quality and innovative visual storytelling.
Chanchlani revealed his creative process during interviews, discussing influences like Jeepers Creepers 2 while crafting unsettling alien designs. His willingness to pursue challenging creative territory—moving beyond comedy into horror and sci-fi—positioned him perfectly for a project like College Fest.
Prime Video India’s Creator Focus
Prime Video’s 2026 announcement emphasizes creator-led projects, signaling a strategic shift in how mainstream entertainment evolves. Beyond Chanchlani, creators are taking center stage across various Prime Video projects, with the platform recognizing that creators innately understand their audience’s desires and cultural connections.

This democratization of content creation benefits creators like Chanchlani, Purav Jha (Carnaame: Badla Gear Palti Kismat), Aisha Ahmed (Dahaad Season 2), and Barkha Singh, who are expanding into ensemble-led projects reflecting contemporary relationships and lifestyles.
Future Implications
Chanchlani’s Prime Video debut opens possibilities for expanded franchise building. He previously hinted at developing an “Ekaki Universe,” suggesting potential for interconnected storytelling across multiple projects. College Fest could become the foundation for broader supernatural or horror-comedy universe expansion.
Read More: Sony Shifts Jumanji 3 Release Date to Avoid Major Box Office Collision
FAQs
What is Ashish Chanchlani’s Prime Video India debut project?
Ashish Chanchlani makes his Prime Video India debut in College Fest, a Gen-Z zombie horror-comedy set during a chaotic college campus festival, produced by TVF.
When was College Fest announced?
College Fest was officially announced on March 19, 2026, during Prime Video Presents, when Prime Video unveiled its 2026 slate of new shows and films.
How many views did Ashish Chanchlani’s Ekaki series accumulate?
Ekaki, his five-part horror-comedy series released on YouTube in 2025, amassed close to 145 million views collectively across all episodes.
Who directed and wrote College Fest?
Vaibhav Bandhoo directs College Fest while Arunabh Kumar wrote the screenplay, with Arunabh Kumar and Vijay Koshy serving as producers.
What is College Fest’s plot about?
The film follows a mysterious infection during a Gen-Z college festival that transforms students into zombies, forcing students to confront real-world consequences and brain rot culture before campus collapses.





