mid-day Exclusive: Sahil Khattar wants to tell people, 'Relax, it's the Internet!'

Sahil Khattar

The YouTube FanFest is all set to come to Mumbai for its fourth edition. While the event, which brings the biggest online superstars under one roof, will be held on March 24, the festival organisers took to Twitter yesterday evening to announce the name of the host, following a game of 20 Questions with fans. It's none other than Sahil Khattar, a YouTube sensation and host of digital channel Being Indian.

The festival line-up in 2016 included AIB, Kanan Gill and Biswa Kalyan Rath, East India Comedy, and SANAM, as well as international YouTubers such as Kurt Hugo Schneider, Lilly Singh, and Shirley Setia.

Excerpts from an interview:

What can we expect from this year's YouTube FanFest?
It's going to be crazy, because I'm hosting it (laughs). But, seriously, I'm a dramatic, song-and-dance kind of guy, so I'm going to bring all of that into the event. Moreover, the biggest YouTubers from all spheres, be it music or comedy, will be headlining the festival.

In terms of content on YouTube, has a lot changed in the last year?
Everyone has started playing it much safer in recent times, which is not a good thing. And I believe it has a lot to do with the general shift in the political atmosphere, not just in India, but across the globe. I want to tell people, ‘Relax, it's the Internet!' That said, even though it seems like we're regressing right now, we'll spring back.

Who are your favourite YouTubers?
There are so many who are doing great stuff, but if I had to pick just one, it would have to be JusReign. He's a Canadian Sikh comedian, and his content is so ridiculous that it's funny. Among the Indian YouTubers, I don't think I really have any one particular favourite. If the content is good, I'll watch it.