The popularity of social media influencers relies on various factors apart from the number of followers they have online, such as their market needs and public demand. It often happens that the most impactful creators need help finding a place in the ranking of top influencers’ typical structure because, generally, those lists are created based on unilateral criteria.
To stand out, here’s a list of top influencers in India based on additional factors like popularity, societal impact, and creativity.
| No. of IG Followers | 2.9M |
| Topics Covered | Fashion, Skincare |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | Myntra, TheMeshstore |
Nancy Tyagi is a self-made fashion designer whose outstanding “scratch to finish” outfits took her to the Cannes Film Festival. Coming from a small village in Uttar Pradesh, Nancy is a testament to dreams turning into reality. Her follower count on Instagram is 2.9 million.
| No. of IG Followers | 61.5M |
| Topics Covered | Modeling, lifestyle |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | Calvin Klein, Sofit |
It is rare for Bollywood actors to have modeling skills as well. Disha Patani seems to have it all: a throbbing modeling career, a decent background in acting, and a healthy influencing business. She has a significant presence on Instagram with 61.5 million followers.
| No. of IG Followers | 12.7M |
| Topics Covered | Politics, National Interest, CA |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | CuckooFM, DhruvRatheeAcademy |
Dhruv Rathee is one such social media influencer who is majorly inclined towards politics and national interests. Some recent and old videos by him caused a turning point during the 2024 General Election. Audience reach on his YouTube channel extends up to 25.8 million subscribers and 12.7 million followers on Instagram.
| No. of IG Followers | 2.7M |
| Topics Covered | Food and Nutrition, Health |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | PharmEasy |
Revant Himatsingka advocates for the consumption of packaged food items, which helps people navigate the “health line” of products. Currently, he is in the limelight among food and pharmaceutical companies for obvious reasons. He has a total of 2.7 million followers on Instagram.
| No. of IG Followers | 8M |
| Topics Covered | Fashion, Lifestyle |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | DoveIndia, ElleIndia |
From a vlogger on YouTube to a social media influencer on Instagram and then getting on the big screens, Prajakta Kohli’s journey has been one of a kind. Her fan following on Instagram is 8 million followers, and on her YouTube channel, she has 7.15 million subscribers.
| No. of IG Followers | 3.6M |
| Topics Covered | Gym, Lifestyle |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | BeastLifeIndia, RosierFood |
Gaurav Taneja is a fitness influencer with an aviation background and an IIT degree who has now shifted towards the influencer market and posts content related to lifestyle and health. His social media follower count extends up to 3.6 million, and his followers consider him a source of inspiration and motivation.
| No. of IG Followers | 3.6M |
| Topics Covered | Reviewing electronic devices |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | Samsung, Snapdragon |
Technical “guru,” Gaurav, is best known for reviewing electronic goods and providing feedback based on a self-researched analysis. Initially, he gained popularity from his YouTube channel with 23.7 million subscribers, and later on, he expanded his social media reach to Instagram as well with 3.6 million followers.
Virat Kohli
| No. of IG Followers | 271M |
| Topics Covered | Fitness, lifestyle |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | Boost, Myntra, Luxor |
Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team’s ex-captain whose on-field aggressively enthusiastic innings fuel his fan base, is leading the list of top influencers in India for having the maximum number of followers on Instagram, which is 271 million. Nowadays, his posts are all about brand promotions and collaborations.
| No. of IG Followers | 75.3K |
| Topics Covered | Mental Health, Parenting, Feminism |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | GYTree, SaukhyamPads, Kindskin |
Sumithra’s primary profession is undoubtedly the most difficult in the world, that is the management of the entire house. She creates content based on her life, focusing on socially constructive areas like women empowerment, mental health, and parenting techniques, which makes her profile on Instagram worth a visit.
| No. of IG Followers | 1.1M |
| Topics Covered | Fashion, Modeling, Comedy |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | KitKat, VoyceJewellery |
Breaking stereotype barriers that restrict men from doing skincare and makeup, Ankush’s videos highlight the freedom of choice to exercise free will. He has a separate Instagram handle named @wingitwithankush (1.1M) for make-up videos. The number of followers on his Instagram is 1.1 million.
| No. of IG Followers | 2.5M |
| Topics Covered | Music, Comedy |
| Key Collaborations | MerchantRecords, ComedyAdda |
”Ye Rashi!! Cooker mein se chane nikal diye..aur khali cooker gas par chhadha diya”
Mukhate’s videos are like a hilarious blend of creative music and memes. His central idea behind creating viral mixes revolves around his passion for harmonics. This lockdown famed creator has over 2.5 million followers on Instagram.
| No. of IG Followers | 1.4M |
| Topics Covered | Comedy, Lifestyle |
| Top Brand Sponsored | L’Oréal Paris |
Salony Gaur started creating funny reels on Instagram for fun, and it blew off soon. The personification of characters in her videos makes it even funnier. She maintains her reel and real life in a balanced way, which makes her followers admire her more. There are a total of 1.4M followers on her profile.
| No. of IG Followers | 1.7M |
| Topics Covered | Finance, Lifestyle |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | Acko, Nykaa |
A finance influencer who is the cultural ambassador of India as well. The content on her page is easy to understand and provides the audience with finance-related knowledge and other tips and tricks. Ndtv credited her with the title of “Finfluencer of the Year.” Her Instagram follower count is 1.7 million.
| No. of IG Followers | 40.2K |
| Topics Covered | Disability, Inclusivity |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | ZaleGlobal, UNICEF |
Vinayna’s grit and resilience make her a true changemaker to create an inclusive society for the physically weak and disabled. She also advocates for cerebral palsy while enjoying life no matter the circumstances and is an inspiration for many people. Everything is possible if we make up our minds for that!
| No. of IG Followers | 1.1M |
| Topics Covered | Travel |
| Top Brand Sponsored | Self-sponsored |
Anunay is on the list because of his unique blend of talents, which has been monetized well. He is a travel influencer who is also an entrepreneur and runs his own 3 pages on Instagram. The travel video reels on his page are loved by 1.1 million followers on Instagram, as it provides them with a digital portal to scenic beauty and peaceful vibes.
| No. of IG Followers | 22.1M |
| Topics Covered | Roasting, memes |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | IplonStar (Sony), Mr. Beast |
Ajey Nagar’s career peaked when he released a diss track, “Yalgar” during the COVID-era. This guy’s social media existence is synonymous with “roasting,” however, excessive use of abusive language is not appreciated among netizens. He has 44.7 million subscribers on YouTube and 22.1 million followers on Instagram.
| No. of IG Followers | 1.5M |
| Topics Covered | Makeup, Lifestyle |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | Nykaa, Glam Ghar |
Bhumika Bahl is a makeup artist (MUA) who is also an educator in her field, where she teaches budding artists about furnished make-up skills that blend with the natural appeal of the skin. A TEDx speaker who is looked up to as an influential figure. Her Instagram reach is 1.5 million.
| No. of IG Followers | 1.5M |
| Topics Covered | Dance, Modeling |
| Top Brand Sponsored | DhamakaTalent |
Akash Thapa is an eighteen-year-old champ from Dehradun who was a contestant in a reality show. He has been making a charming impression on young hearts through his dancing and modeling content across social media platforms. On Instagram, he has a total of 1.5 million followers.
| No. of IG Followers | 1.8M |
| Topics Covered | Sexual health, body positivity, self love |
| Top Brand(s) Sponsored | EpicCondoms, BeMeWoman |
Dr. Tanaya is amazingly contributing her part in dismantling the stigma around sexual health while promoting self-love and body positivity hand in hand. Breaking myths about reproductive health and sexual well-being and creating awareness are her major areas of interest. Her Instagram follower count is 1.8 million.
| No. of IG Followers | 64.4K |
| Topics Covered | Fashion, Modeling, Societal Upliftment |
| Top News coverage | Brut, Theworldmagazine |
Fashion influencers in India are taking notes from these stunning kids aged between 12–16 who are giving tough competition to the top models of reputed fashion industries. The entire design of costumes, video direction for reels, and model-like ramp walk has been executed by these kids, who are part of a Lucknow-based NGO called Innovation for Change.
Their featured reel crossed 3.1 million views in no time. Nancy Tyagi is the inspiration of these young girls.
The Future of Influencer Marketing in India
Digital empowerment has not only opened gates for people to find an alternative source of gaining name and fame but also provided a source of passive income.
The increasing number of influencers in India seems double-edged as far as their addictive hold on the human brain is considered. However, it does help boost the economy by some percentage and how much Instagram influencers earn in India. India has been one of the flag-bearers of the digital revolution for over a decade, and we are progressing every day. Moreover, the government’s involvement with digital creators has further proved to be an encouragement for emerging influencers.
An overall analysis of the current scenario of the Indian market suggests that the influencers in India have a bright future ahead!
What Does it Take to Become an Influencer?
The prerequisites to become a social media influencer in India include a minimum of 2 things:
- an internet connection
- an electronic device that has an internet connection
Anyone and everyone can become an influencer; however, it is not a cakewalk. It is truly an art how the content creators make it look so easy. With the proper skill set and understanding of the social media platform and by conquering the algorithm game, creators can reach their target audience in less time and achieve their follower goals soon.
Moreover, following up on the ongoing trends in new media also helps boost the reach of digital creators.
Conclusion: Taking Care of Mental Health and Avoiding “Dooms-scrolling”
It is important to regulate screen time while keeping up with the trends, and influencers should also beware of the endless loop of scrolling.
Creators from varied genres have occupied the influencer market, which includes travel, food, gaming, adventure, etc., including the ones circling social causes such as women empowerment, animal welfare, climate change, and the list goes on.
This way, the emerging creators are not just building public relations through their social media profiles but making an impact as well.
