Kroll, a global financial and risk advisory solutions, has announced the ranking of India’s most powerful celebrity brands. The results are based on brand values derived from both their brand endorsement portfolios and relative social media presence. The overall brand value of the top 25 Indian celebrities is estimated to have reached $2 billion in 2024, an increase of more than 8.6% from the previous year.
At the top of the rankings, Virat Kohli continues to dominate with a brand value of $231.1 million, cementing his position as India’s most influential celebrity. Ranveer Singh retained the second spot with a brand value of $170.7 million, though this represents a decline from the previous year. Shah Rukh Khan maintained his third position, with his brand value rising by nearly 21% to $145.7 million. Alia Bhatt secured the fourth spot with $116.4 million, while Sachin Tendulkar climbed to fifth place with $112.2 million, boosted by a surge in endorsements.
Several notable shifts were also observed in this year’s rankings. Kriti Sanon rose to the 19th position, Tamannaah Bhatia to 21st, Jasprit Bumrah to 22nd, and Ananya Panday rounded out the list at 25th. These movements highlight the growing influence of younger actors and sports personalities in the celebrity brand landscape.
Beyond the rankings, the report also points to changing dynamics in India’s entertainment industry. Hindi cinema’s box office share fell to 39.5% in 2024, while South Indian cinema surged ahead with 47.7%, reflecting a clear change in audience preferences. Over-the-top (OTT) platforms accounted for more than half of total revenues from major releases, even as big-budget spectacles continued to perform strongly in theatres.
Another emerging trend is the popularity of nostalgia-driven re-releases. Bollywood classics such as Jab We Met and Tumbbad outperformed their original runs, contributing nearly 50% and 70% of their lifetime collections respectively. Similarly, the re-release of Tollywood hit Ghilli generated about 35% of its total earnings, evoking the same fervor as its original debut.
Umakanta Panigrahi, Managing Director, Valuation Advisory Services, Kroll, said, “In 2024 we witnessed that the future of Indian cinema lies in synergy, indeed, OTT content and theatres complement each other. Audiences can now have the best of both worlds: grand theatrical experiences and intimate storytelling at home. As the industry continues to adapt this hybrid model, it could very well become its strongest era yet. Finally, following a stagnant phase in the cinema business, re-releases have put film theatres back on the map. As a result, cinemas have also definitely re-established their position in the industry as a strong competitor, proving that nothing can replace the feeling of watching a film in a theatre!”
