For many young professionals, landing a high-paying technology job is considered the ultimate career milestone. Giving up this stability seems almost unthinkable, especially when the annual salary adds up to Rs 35 lakh. But that’s exactly what Muskaan Mittal and Ashish Gupta made. The couple quit high-paying tech careers to become full-time content creators. What started as travel videos shot during a vacation in Vietnam has now grown into a business that reportedly generates revenue of over Rs 1 crore in a year. Their journey reflects how India’s fast-growing creative economy is opening up non-traditional career opportunities, but also highlights the risk, perseverance and business acumen required to succeed.
A software developer and data analyst quit his job to create a creative business worth Rs 1 crore. (Photo: IG)
From software developer and data analyst to full-time creator
Before becoming social media influencers, Muskaan and Ashish worked in the technology field. According to the couple, Muskaan works as a software developer and earns an annual salary of about Rs 23 lakh, while Aashish works as a data analyst and earns an annual salary of about Rs 12 lakh. Their combined annual income is close to Rs 35 lakh, a level of financial security that many professionals aspire to achieve. Their content creation journey began unexpectedly. While traveling in Vietnam, they documented parts of their trip and uploaded the videos online. The video has reportedly been viewed over 20,000 times, encouraging them to further experiment with creating digital content. Initially, content creation remained a side hustle to their full-time jobs.
They earned just Rs 15,000 on their first brand collaboration
The couple started creating content regularly in May 2023. For months, there was little financial reward. According to reports, their first paid collaboration took place in October 2023 and earned them Rs 15,000. Despite balancing demanding corporate jobs and content creation, they continued to post. By the end of the first year, they reportedly earned around Rs 6.5 lakh through brand collaborations and other creative opportunities. Although the income was significantly less than their corporate salaries, it gave them confidence that content creation could ultimately be a sustainable career.
Big Decision: Leaving a Corporate Career
exist 2024Afterwards, Muskaan and Aashish decided to quit their technical jobs and become full-time creators. The move comes with considerable uncertainty. Unlike paid employment, the maker economy does not provide a guaranteed monthly income. Revenue is dependent on audience engagement, brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, digital products and other revenue streams that may fluctuate throughout the year. According to the couple, their first full year as professional creators proved to be transformative. They signed with a creative management agency, expanded into affiliate marketing, and organized their first group travel experience for their followers. By the end of 2024, they claimed to have earned around Rs 4.53 million, more than the combined salaries they had previously earned in the technology industry.
Crossing Rs 1 Crore Milestone
Year two marked another big leap. The couple decided to leave their governing body after feeling undervalued and began managing the partnership independently. They diversify their revenue streams by focusing on:
- Brand cooperation
- affiliate marketing
- YouTube and Facebook Monetization
- Digital product sales
- Carefully planned group travel experiences
According to the data they shared, these efforts helped them generate revenue of Rs 1.09 lakh in 2025. In the first four months of this year alone, they have earned Rs 2.16 crore, they said, while clarifying that the figures represent total revenue and do not take into account business expenses.
The Creator Economy Is More Than Social Media Fame
Muskaan and Ashish’s story highlights an important shift in India’s employment landscape. Today’s content creators are increasingly building businesses rather than relying solely on viral videos. Revenue can come from a variety of sources including advertising, sponsorships, affiliate commissions, digital products, memberships, workshops and curated travel experiences. However, success rarely happens overnight. The couple spent months creating content before landing their first paid partnership, and even after leaving the company, they continued to experiment with different business models before finding sustainable growth.
What students and young professionals can learn
Muskaan and Ashish’s journey goes beyond just leaving corporate jobs. It demonstrates the importance of testing an idea before taking a major career risk. Instead of quitting their jobs immediately, they continued to work full-time while building their audience, gaining hands-on experience, and generating initial income before transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship. Their stories also illustrate that today’s content creation requires skills beyond just making videos. Marketing, branding, negotiation, audience engagement, financial planning and business development all play an equally important role. As India’s digital economy continues to expand, careers in the creative ecosystem are becoming increasingly viable, but they require consistency, adaptability and patience, just like creativity. For students considering non-traditional career paths, their experiences are a reminder that success often comes not from following popular trends but from developing sustainable skills and treating your passion like a business. Disclaimer: This article is based on Information shared publicly Written by Muskaan Mittal and Aashish Gupta via their social media platforms. The above revenue figures are self-reported by the creators and have not been independently verified by The Times of India. Earnings may represent total income before fees, taxes, and other business costs. This article is for reference only.
