Instagram has come a long way and is held to be one of the largest social media forums globally; among them, India occupies a lot of top positions where this worldwide phenomenon sits and engages users. Millions of people log in daily to see what is cooking. The platform has turned out to be a direct connection space between celebrities, influencers, and brands with their follower bases. It also allows context for sharing moments of private lives as individuals show talents and market products freely and creatively.
There is something about using Instagram when you are a celebrity in India: it can be said to help you stay relevant, connect with fans, and build a personal brand. With the advent of 2025, a few Indian celebrities have managed to attract an audience that renders their star power impressive and even, in fact, mythic, as they have established themselves as the most important social influencers in the country.
These celebrities are setting records with the highest followers on Instagram, making it a key metric in measuring their influence and reach on the platform. The highest followers on Instagram signify their growing dominance, both in India and globally.
Why do Instagram followers matter in today’s digital landscape?
- Indicator of Influence: A large following signals reach and popularity.
- Business Opportunities: High follower counts attract brand collaborations and sponsorships.
- Brand Building: Followers help establish a personal or corporate identity.
- Monetization: More followers lead to income through ads and sponsored content.
- Engagement & Visibility: Higher followers boost likes, comments, and content exposure.
Discover the top 10 Instagram accounts with the highest followers and their global influence
The top 10 Instagram accounts with the highest followers showcase immense global influence. These celebrities and personalities lead the platform, shaping trends, driving engagement, and setting new standards in digital reach and impact.
1. Virat Kohli: 260M+ Followers
Virat Kohli is an international cricketer and the highest-followed Indian on Instagram with over 260 million followers. This is not surprising considering the unique marks Kohli has made on Indian cricket and also the fact that he is a health and fitness advocate by his persona off the field. He usually posts images and short videos focusing on personal moments—along with his wife Anushka Sharma and daughter Vamika—professional cricket and aspects of health and fitness to his Instagram followers.
Thus, going beyond cricket, Kohli sets a benchmark for his fan followers in terms of an entire lifestyle and fitness regime that they can imitate. Apart from that, even the hundreds of brands associated with him magnify his status of being a major person on Instagram, contributing to his position as one of the highest followers on Instagram.
2. Priyanka Chopra Jonas: 90M Followers
One of the Bollywood actresses who moved to Hollywood is Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Her following has extended to more than 90 million people. Priyanka’s Instagram feed offers fans a glimpse into her luxurious lifestyle, family, travels, and popular advocacy for causes. The more internationally popular one becomes as a global actress, producer, and philanthropist, the more fan-following one gets.
More than just providing their careers, these celebrities keep followers engaged by talking about essential causes, for example, women’s empowerment, education, and diversity. It is partly because Priyanka harmoniously blends personal, professional, and advocacy posts, which have greatly contributed to her massive Instagram following and her spot among those with the highest followers on Instagram.
3. Shraddha Kapoor: 80M+ Followers
Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor is currently in shape to attract attention through Instagram. By growing her following now to 80 million, Shraddha was able to captivate audiences with what can be seen and enjoyed in her posts—information about her life, fitness activities, and eventually, her work in films. Adding up to her reputation as an actress famous for two hits, Aashiqui 2 and Baaghi, her candid moments aboard revealed what was behind the scenes within her shoots, her workout sessions, and her endorsements with brands.
Her upbeat and down-to-earth image has added much to her popularity as a favorite among fans who admire their natural beauty and grounded personalities. She’s an all-thumbs-over example of an actress who’s not afraid to take advantage of social media to build her fan base and influence, contributing to her rise in the top 10 highest followers on Instagram.
4. Alia Bhatt: 79M+ Followers
Alia Bhatt has become the most-followed Bollywood influencer on Instagram, with a whopping 79 million follower count. Known for her roles in films like Raazi and Gully Boy, Alia shares a very different variety of content: glam fashion photoshoots, behind-the-scenes from film sets, and personal snippets with her family and friends.
The audience also gets a glimpse into her new life as a mother and an overly successful actress. The posts often reflect the free-spirited fun and youthful nature of Alia and their connection with millions of fans, solidifying her place among the highest followers on Instagram.
5. Deepika Padukone: 75M+ Followers
Deepika Padukone is a well-known single Instagram figure with 75 million followers. Apart from being a Bollywood superstar, she stands for mental health advocacy, which is being touted through the media. Deepika brings her audience in from where she shows what makes her work in the film industry, the brands for which she lives, and what issues around mental health are close to her heart.
Her feed is a collection of some glamorous fashion posts, personal photos, and heartfelt messages, which makes her an inspirational person not only in the entertainment industry but also as a role model for many, especially those with mental health challenges.
6. Sachin Tendulkar: 74M+ Followers
With 74 million followers, the cricketing legend in India, Sachin Tendulkar, continues to exude in national icon even after he has left the game. He shares his moments from cricket, philanthropy, and family life on Instagram. Although he is not on the field anymore, he continues to enlighten and inspire his followers with various motivational posts and updates from his life.
His posts are personal and relevant, giving fans access to him not only as a cricketer but as a humanitarian and family man. His popularity on the platform is merely a testament to the fact that he is one of the most loved and respected figures in India.
7. Katrina Kaif: 74M+ Followers
Another Bollywood actress, who has garnered over 74 million followers, is also very popular on social media. Known for her role in blockbuster movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dhoom 3, her Instagram is packed with fashionable posts, movie promotions, and sneak peeks into her private life.
Also, she has turned her Instagram into a strong gift by endorsing her beauty brand Kay Beauty and empowering health, which very well relates to most of her followers. In addition, Katrina makes a mark as one of the trendsetters in beauty and fashion, perfecting the style of chic elegance she embodies.
8. Akshay Kumar: 70M+ Followers
Beyond being a celebrated Bollywood actor, he is a fitness buff, social advocate, entrepreneur, and fairly close to the 70 M mark in the Harbhajan Singh Instagram community. Akshay Kumar displays in part personal moment features on his Instagram and, more entertainingly, includes movie promotions and behind-the-scenes snippets, along with sharing some parts of fitness routines with a close view into his family life.
He uses his outlet to promote cleanliness, mental health awareness, and fitness. His followers will keep track of the latest updates in his work life and can get inspired to live a better and more active life. Thus, Akshay Kumar is, perhaps, one of the truly most popular faces as well as a great influential figure on Instagram in India.
9. Anushka Sharma: 69M+ Followers
She is an actress and producer with about 69 million people who follow her and has an Instagram feed with personal moments with her husband Virat Kohli, movie-related updates, and sustainability and social cause activities for Anushka Sharma. Anushka also frequently promotes her brand Nush and messages on the environment and women’s empowerment through her Instagram page.
Her Instagram not only depicts her fabulous working life but also the fact that she is someone who would want to use that celebrity to create important changes of relevance with her audience. She is one of the most relatable Bollywood celebrities on social media because of her authenticity and how she shares real-life experiences.
10. Ranveer Singh: 67M+ followers
Ranveer Singh is one of such personalities, and his unconventional style makes him the most liveliness found in the digital world, followed by about 67 million people. Perfectly, his Instagram page goes by a high-energy man, from showcasing colorful posts featuring his quirks and fashion whims to behind-the-scenes shots from movies to personal moments. The man is audacious and speaks his mind.
That’s what his fans say, and it’s been loved—the sheer boss approach to fashion and some unapologetic nature. Oh, his feed is quite oftentimes colorful and full of fun as such. It gives a break from the usual glamorous pictures seen all over Instagram.
Who are the most-followed people on Instagram in the world?
There have been many platforms for global connectivity between celebrities, athletes, and influencers with millions of their fans. More than not, the most followed people on Instagram are known in our society because these numbers reflect their appeal across the board of the world. The highest followers on Instagram highlight their global reach and influence.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi from sports, Kylie Jenner, and Selena Gomez represent the entertainment side, and many such people share everything about their lives as well as brand partnerships on the platform. This is how they have been ruling on social media with their influence.
| Rank | Name | Followers |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | 600M+ |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | 500M+ |
| 3 | Kylie Jenner | 400M+ |
| 4 | Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson | 400M+ |
| 5 | Selena Gomez | 380M+ |
| 6 | Kim Kardashian | 370M+ |
| 7 | Ariana Grande | 350M+ |
| 8 | Beyoncé | 300M+ |
| 9 | Justin Bieber | 290M+ |
| 10 | Khloe Kardashian | 280M+ |
Quick Recap
1. Instagram Power: Instagram has built itself not only as a connecting space for celebrities to their fans but also builds and defines their public image and brand value.
2. Most Popular Indian Celebrities: The list of India’s highest-followed celebrities—from Virat Kohli to Priyanka Chopra—are all representations of their power over millions, including those outside their country. Their social presence makes them stand out in any digital marketing landscape.
3. Importance of Followers: It’s not all about being popular with a large base of people, but this serves as a great tool for business opportunities, marketing partnerships, and income generation tying it up solidly into how marketing works nowadays with almost all of these sharing avenues.
4. Global Context: Where Indian stars sit against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylie Jenner reveals how Instagram is pandering to global influence-through-trend and consumer behavior.
5. The Bigger Picture: The blog thus observes that Instagram is not just a social network but rather a dynamic space for personal branding, business development, and public opinion construction in today’s digital-first world
Author’s Point of View
Instagram has indeed brought about a transformation in the way celebrities connect with their fans and build their brand. The top 10 most-followed people in India are not only a reflection of their profession but also put them on the global front. For them, Instagram becomes a platform for branding, marketing, and communicating at a personal level.
The numbers of followers may appear too statistics-oriented, but they reflect a broader reach and impact to influence trends and consumer behavior as well as add to the engagement. As social media expands its horizons, the ever-growing significance of Instagram in entertainment and commercial sectors will only require further active and engaging participation from the members of the public towards their platform.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Richest Actors in India
