Kavya Karnatac
| Kavya Karnatac | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 1998 or 1999 |
| Age | 27 |
| Birthplace | Nainital, Uttarakhand, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Media and Cultural Studies |
| Alma mater | Tata Institute of Social Sciences |
| Occupation | Digital content creator, documentary storyteller |
| Years active | 2022–present |
| Known for | Ground-level reporting; founder of KK Create |
| Organisation | KK Create |
Kavya Karnatac is an Indian digital content creator, documentary storyteller, and media entrepreneur. She is the founder of KK Create, an independent digital platform known for ground-level reporting and long-form storytelling focused on social, environmental, and cultural issues across India.
She gained national attention for her on-site reporting from locations that are rarely covered by mainstream or digital media, including Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill, coal fire zones in Jharkhand, and water-stressed regions of Rajasthan.[1]
Early life and education
Kavya Karnatac was raised in Nainital, Uttarakhand. She later pursued higher education in media and cultural studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.
During her academic years, she worked on a documentary project focused on Mumbai’s Aarey forest and the adivasi communities living in the region. The project influenced her interest in long-form field reporting and community-based storytelling.
Early career
After completing her studies, Karnatac joined Pocket Aces as a video producer, where she worked for approximately three years. Her work involved digital video production and storytelling for online platforms.
In 2022, she left her position and took a career break, during which she began experimenting with informational and documentary-style content on social media.[2]
KK Create
KK Create was founded by Kavya Karnatac in 2022 as an independent digital storytelling platform. The initiative began as a solo effort, with Karnatac handling research, filming, scripting, and editing on her own.
The platform focuses on on-ground reporting and explores issues such as environmental degradation, public health, livelihoods, infrastructure, and local culture. KK Create avoids studio-based formats and trend-driven content, prioritising direct engagement with people and places.[3]
Notable reporting
Karnatac gained widespread attention after publishing a video report from Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill, one of the tallest garbage dumps in India. The video documented living conditions, health risks, and water scarcity faced by nearby communities and crossed several million views on YouTube.
While filming at the site, Karnatac and her team faced hostility and a mob confrontation, an incident that drew attention to the risks involved in field-based digital reporting.[4]
Other notable coverage includes documentation of underground coal fires in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, and water scarcity in rural Rajasthan.
Growth and reach
Within two years of its launch, KK Create uploaded more than 450 videos and accumulated close to one billion views across platforms. The YouTube channel crossed two million subscribers, while its Instagram presence also grew to nearly two million followers.
Most of the platform’s growth has been driven organically through audience sharing and repeat viewership.[5]
Business model
KK Create generates revenue through a combination of brand partnerships, platform advertising revenue, and viewer donations. Brand collaborations account for a significant portion of earnings, with partnerships involving private companies as well as public sector campaigns.
The platform now operates with a small team supporting research, filming, editing, and logistics, while Karnatac remains closely involved in editorial decisions and on-ground reporting.
Vision
Karnatac has stated her intention to gradually reduce dependence on brand partnerships and build a sustainable, audience-supported model for KK Create.
Her long-term goal is to document stories from all districts of India, creating a comprehensive archive of local narratives, cultures, and lived realities through independent digital reporting.
See also
References
- ↑ https://www.forbesindia.com/article/30-under-30-2025/kavya-karnatac-a-window-into-the-lives-of-the-forgotten-people/95291/1
- ↑ https://www.sovrenn.com/knowledge/kavya-karnatac-s-biography-the-visionary-behind-kk-create
- ↑ https://starsunfolded.com/kavya-karnatac/
- ↑ https://arisetimes.in/business/digital-content-creators-kavya-karnatac-builds-ground-level/
- ↑ https://khabribeta.com/kavya-karnatac-biography-age-kk-create-husband/