The Rebel Kid’s “Spice It Up” on JioHotstar: India’s Hot Ones or Just a Spicy Gimmick?

JioHotstar’s new talk show “Spice It Up,” hosted by influencer Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid, drops on October 17, 2025, and the internet is already buzzing not because it’s original, but because it looks like a straight-up Hot Ones knockoff. From neon lighting and dramatic reactions to the “spice challenge” gimmick, everything screams déjà vu. But this time, instead of hot wings, we get pani puris.

The Setup: “UnfilteredAF” or Uninspired Copy?

The show’s trailer promises “the spiciest chat show on the internet,” where celebrities answer bold questions while eating increasingly fiery golgappas. Sounds fun, until you realise the concept was already perfected years ago by Sean Evans in Hot Ones, where Hollywood stars actually sweat, cry, and confess in genuine chaos.

Here, the chaos feels curated. The trailer looks like an ad for Instagram Reels: bright, loud, and algorithm-friendly but devoid of substance. Apoorva’s opening line, “Welcome to the most kaleshi show on the internet,” lands with the same impact as a WhatsApp forward.

The Guests: Safe Bets, Predictable Drama

The first season lineup features Mouni Roy, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Aparshakti Khurana, Prajakta Koli, and Kusha Kapila, a classic mix of TV, OTT, and influencer personalities.

• Mouni Roy, fresh from Sultan of Delhi, gives her usual high-drama expressions as if she’s channeling Ekta Kapoor energy in a chat show setting.

• Nushrratt Bharuccha, still riding the indie wave after Akelli, acts “shocked” when asked who she’d kiss (spoiler: Ranbir Kapoor again).

• Aparshakti Khurana, the internet’s favorite sidekick, looks genuinely in pain — which might be the trailer’s only real moment.

• Prajakta Koli, MostlySane turned actor, brings her “relatable girl” energy, adding some authenticity amidst the chaos.

• Kusha Kapila drops the viral line: “50 golgappe rakh do, mujhe farak nahi padega” — a dialogue that feels engineered for reels rather than reality.

Together, it’s a lineup built for clickbait, not conversation.

The Rebel Kid: Loud, Bold, and Trying Too Hard

Apoorva Mukhija, a known social media figure, leans fully into her “Rebel Kid” branding — exaggerated expressions, one-liners, and Gen-Z sass. But the problem is tone: what could’ve been cheeky comes off as self-aware overkill.

Her final line, “Usually logon ki fatt ke chaar hoti hai, meri fatt ke 74 hui thi,” is meant to sound edgy but feels like a Reel caption gone wrong. Apoorva clearly has charisma and screen presence but when you wrap that in recycled ideas, it’s like pouring Old Monk into a Starbucks cup and calling it innovation.

The Format: Pani Puri ≠ Pain

Let’s address the main problem. Hot Ones works because the pain is real — each wing level-up creates tension and vulnerability. In Spice It Up, the stakes are as mild as Elco’s “medium teekha.” The concept of “spice torture” using pani puri in Mumbai — a city that casually eats vada pavs that could burn through concrete — feels laughably safe.

It’s a sanitized version of rebellion, one where “spicy” is brand-approved and controversy is pre-filtered.

Why The Internet Is Divided

Since the trailer dropped, the reactions have split viewers:

• Some praised Apoorva’s energy and the show’s visual appeal.

• Others mocked it as “Hot Ones with chaat.”

• A few pointed out that the “#UnfilteredAF” tag is ironic for a show that looks heavily edited.

Even Reddit threads have called it “painfully derivative,” while YouTube comments oscillate between “finally, something desi!” and “this is peak influencer cringe.”

Verdict: More Style, Less Substance

“Spice It Up” tries to market rebellion in a bottle — or in this case, a golgappa shell. But beneath the glossy production, influencer energy, and neon chaos lies a creative void. It might trend for a week, generate a few viral clips, and then vanish into the endless scroll.

Apoorva’s confidence and humor could’ve built something unique, but as of now, The Rebel Kid feels trapped in a formula she should’ve been breaking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is JioHotstar’s Spice It Up about?

Spice It Up is a celebrity chat show where guests eat increasingly spicy pani puris while answering personal questions, hosted by influencer Apoorva “The Rebel Kid” Mukhija. It premieres on October 17, 2025.

2. Who are the guests on Spice It Up Season 1?

The first lineup features Mouni Roy, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Aparshakti Khurana, Prajakta Koli, and Sargun Mehta—each participating in the spicy challenge while sharing personal stories.

3. Why are people comparing Spice It Up to Hot Ones?

Because both shows involve celebrities answering questions while enduring spice-induced pain. However, while Hot Ones uses global hot sauces, Spice It Up substitutes pani puris as the challenge, prompting criticism for lack of originality.

4. Is Spice It Up scripted or real?

Though marketed as #UnfilteredAF, reactions in the trailer appear heavily edited and dramatized, leading many viewers to question its authenticity.

5. Where can I watch Spice It Up?

The show will stream exclusively on JioHotstar starting October 17, 2025.