MAM
Virat Kohli tops India’s first celebrity brand value list at Rs 3,542 Crore
Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra follow as study maps power of star equity
MUMBAI: Cricket may be played on the field, but Virat Kohli is clearly winning off it when it comes to brand value. Cricket superstar Virat Kohli has been ranked India’s most valuable celebrity with a staggering brand value of Rs 3,542 crore, according to the maiden Fortune India-Interbrand Most Valuable Celebrities list, which has evaluated the country’s top 25 stars for the first time.
The list, published by Fortune India in partnership with global brand consultancy Interbrand, places Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan second with a brand value of Rs 3,017 crore, followed by actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas at Rs 2,507 crore.
The study goes beyond traditional measures such as box-office earnings or endorsement income, instead assessing overall brand strength using parameters including engagement, distinctiveness, coherence, affinity and trust.
According to the report, Virat Kohli’s dominant social media presence and high engagement velocity give him a unique advantage, while his consistent “health-first” brand positioning reinforces his identity as a high-performance athlete.
Shah Rukh Khan, meanwhile, is described as a “stable, long-term asset” with one of the strongest and most consistent commercial profiles in the entertainment industry. His long-standing association with brands such as Hyundai highlights his coherence, trust and distinctiveness, the report said.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas ranked third, with the report highlighting her multi-dimensional identity spanning acting, entrepreneurship, production and global advocacy, which enhances both her aspirational appeal and commercial strength.
The top 10 list also features MS Dhoni, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Alia Bhatt and Allu Arjun, reflecting a blend of sporting and cinematic influence shaping India’s celebrity economy.
The rankings underline how celebrity influence in India is increasingly being measured not just by popularity, but by sustained brand equity and cultural relevance across platforms.
As the lines between entertainment, sport and commerce continue to blur, the study signals a maturing ecosystem where star power is being quantified with the same rigour as corporate brands, reshaping how influence is valued in India’s expanding creator economy.
