Daily Updates Shah Rukh Khan Tops India’s Most Powerful Celebrity List in 2025 with $177.9 Million Brand Value Adarsh SinghAugust 5, 2026012 views SRK Overtakes Virat Kohli; Ranveer Singh Holds Second Spot in Kroll Celebrity Rankings Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has emerged as India’s most powerful celebrity brand in 2025, according to Kroll India’s Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025 report. The actor climbed two positions from last year to claim the top spot with a brand value of $177.9 million, overtaking cricketer Virat Kohli, who slipped to third place. The latest rankings reflect the growing importance of digital influence, entrepreneurial ventures, and social media engagement alongside traditional endorsement deals in determining celebrity brand value. Top Three Celebrity Brands in India According to the report: Shah Rukh Khan ranked No. 1 with a brand value of $177.9 million. Ranveer Singh retained the second position with $162.9 million. Virat Kohli, who topped the rankings in 2024, slipped to third place with a brand value of $158.4 million. Kroll estimated the combined brand value of India’s top 25 celebrities at $2 billion in 2025, representing a 3.7% decline compared to the previous year. Beardo Nears ₹300 Crore Revenue in FY26; Profit Surges 70% READ MORE Digital Influence Reshapes Celebrity Endorsements The report highlights a significant shift in the endorsement ecosystem, with digital campaigns becoming a larger part of celebrity partnerships. Earlier, digital endorsements accounted for 40% to 60% of endorsement portfolios. In 2025, that share has increased to 60% to 75% for several leading celebrities as brands increasingly leverage social media, digital content, and creator-led campaigns to reach consumers. According to Umakanta Panigrahi, Managing Director of Valuation Advisory Services at Kroll, celebrity brand value today is influenced by a combination of traditional endorsement strength, digital relevance, social media engagement, AI-driven opportunities, and entrepreneurial ventures. He added that evaluating celebrity brands now requires more sophisticated valuation methods that capture both commercial performance and digital influence. Why Shah Rukh Khan Reached No. 1 The report attributes Shah Rukh Khan’s rise primarily to the massive commercial success of his comeback films released in 2023 and the continued expansion of his endorsement portfolio. According to Kroll: His normalized brand associations increased from 28 in 2024 to 36 in 2025. His endorsement fee remained stable at around ₹10 crore per campaign. As a result, his brand value increased 22%, rising from $145.7 million in 2024 to $177.9 million in 2025. The strong combination of box-office success, sustained brand partnerships, and widespread consumer appeal helped him climb from third place to the top of the rankings. Ranveer Singh Holds Second Position Actor Ranveer Singh maintained his position as India’s second most valuable celebrity brand with a valuation of $162.9 million. The report noted that his endorsement fee increased from approximately ₹7.5 crore to ₹8 crore, supported by the commercial success of Dhurandhar. However, his overall brand value growth was partially offset by a decline in his endorsement portfolio, with the number of active brand associations falling from 45 in 2024 to 38 in 2025. Emerging Celebrity Winners Several celebrities recorded significant gains in this year’s rankings. Among the biggest movers: Samantha Ruth Prabhu entered the Top 25, climbing from 28th to 25th, with her brand value increasing 30%. Ananya Panday moved up from 25th to 19th. Rohit Sharma climbed from 17th to 14th, strengthening his position among India’s leading celebrity brands. Entrepreneurship Becoming a Key Value Driver According to Vinit Karnik, Business Head at GroupM ESP, celebrities are increasingly evolving beyond endorsers into entrepreneurs by launching and scaling their own consumer brands. He believes this trend will continue accelerating in the coming years, while cricketers are expected to remain dominant in India’s endorsement ecosystem due to their unmatched reach, engagement, and recall among audiences. The report concludes that celebrity brand value is no longer determined solely by film success or sporting achievements. Digital influence, social media engagement, entrepreneurial ventures, AI-led opportunities, and long-term commercial partnerships are now equally important in shaping India’s most valuable celebrity brands.