He failed IIT entrance on purpose and quit corporate job to chase happiness. Haryana man now leads an Imtiaz Ali way of life in the mountains, inspiring others through education, creativity, and photography

In a society obsessed with the conventional 9-to-5 ladder, true fulfillment often requires a radical leap of faith. Breaking free from corporate expectations to chase personal happiness takes immense courage, yet more people are trading rigid career paths for creative freedom. While millions remain trapped in the exhausting corporate grind, one man from the small Haryana village of Rewari chose a completely different path. Rishabh Khaneja deliberately steered away from a guaranteed engineering and corporate future, embracing a hint of rebellion that ultimately paid off. Today, he lives a deeply fulfilling, cinematic life in the mountains, inspiring others through education, art, and photography.

A deliberate pivot away from IIT

According to a report by the Official Humans of Bombay, Rishabh Khaneja made a revelation that continues to stun many: he purposefully failed his IIT entrance exam. While millions of students across the country tie their self-worth to cracking the elite engineering test, he sat in the examination hall intentionally selecting incorrect answers. This unusual move stemmed not from a desire to rebel, but from a profound fear of inheriting a life that did not belong to him.


As the eldest son, Rishabh Khaneja’s trajectory had been strictly pre-programmed toward science, engineering, an MBA, and a stable corporate position. However, observing successful relatives who had already achieved these traditional milestones made him realize that material success did not equal genuine joy. Guided by the question of why the destination lacked happiness for those who reached it, he chose to rewrite his own narrative.

According to details from Rishabh Khaneja's official website, his unconventional journey truly took shape after completing his schooling in Noida and moving to Mumbai, where he studied psychology, sociology, and economics at Mithibai College. Upon graduating, his passion for social impact led him to a two-year stint as a Teach for India fellow, an invaluable experience where he first began teaching storytelling and photography to young minds. He subsequently spent another 3 years in the formal education sector, working as a corporate social responsibility professional for DMart and later as a storyboard artist for an edtech platform.

Crafting a purposeful, mountain-led life

A massive turning point arrived in June 2022 when Rishabh Khaneja finally walked away from the corporate landscape to embark on a soulful, nomadic journey reminiscent of an Imtiaz Ali film. Over the course of several months, he completed a solo motorcycle expedition across the rugged terrains of Spiti, Zanskar, and Ladakh. He actively immersed himself in diverse experiences, volunteering at a cafe, spending two months on a permaculture farm in Hyderabad, and completing a 21-day yoga teacher training course in South Goa.

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A post shared by Rishabh Khaneja (@dibsonthewindowseat)

Ultimately, seeking a slower, more intentional existence, Rishabh Khaneja relocated to a peaceful village near the paragliding hub of Bir to focus on full-time writing. This extensive period of exploration allowed him to synthesize his core callings. Realizing that his ultimate purpose lay at the intersection of imagination and learning, he now works as a full-time creative educator, author, and photographer. Over the last two years, he has partnered with various organizations and independent creators to design transformative workshops, immersive journeys, and unique creative experiences.