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Cricket continues to reign supreme in India, with top cricketers surpassing Bollywood A-listers in the latest popularity rankings. According to the 2024 Brand Endorser Report by Hansa Research, cricket legends Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar occupy the top three spots, outshining Bollywood icons such as Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Salman Khan.
Virat Kohli secured the top position, followed by MS Dhoni in second and Sachin Tendulkar in third. The rankings reflect their broad appeal across various demographics, with Kohli praised for his likeability, popularity, and aspirational image, all of which make him a top choice for brand endorsements.
The report, which analysed the influence of over 400 celebrities from films, sports, television, and social media, evaluates each celebrity using a unique Brand Endorser Score. This score is derived from factors such as fan following, recognition, category fit, and public perception.
Cricketers are seen as real-life heroes who inspire audiences through their perseverance and success, according to Ashish Karnad, Executive Vice President of Hansa Research. He noted that cricketers, particularly from the golden era of Sachin Tendulkar, as well as current stars like Kohli and Dhoni, have built a unique emotional connection with the public, helping them maintain their position as dominant brand endorsers.
An interesting insight from the report is that Deepika Padukone is the only female celebrity in the top 10, holding the 10th spot. Meanwhile, South Indian actor Allu Arjun made a remarkable rise, moving from 16th in 2022 to 7th place in 2024, the sole South representative in the national rankings.
The Brand Endorser Report is based on a survey conducted among 4,000 respondents across 36 cities in India. The research aims to provide brands with actionable insights for choosing the right celebrity partner based on public perception and the effectiveness of their endorsements.
Top 10 Celebrities in India (2024)
- Virat Kohli
- MS Dhoni
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Akshay Kumar
- Amitabh Bachchan
- Allu Arjun
- Salman Khan
- Hrithik Roshan
- Deepika Padukone
