SRK crowned king of brand value in 2025 Kroll report; Ranveer Singh, Virat Kohli follow
New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has climbed to the top spot as India’s most valuable celebrity brand for 2025, according to the latest Celebrity Brand Valuation Study released by global financial advisory firm Kroll.
With a brand value of USD 177.9 million, Shah Rukh Khan reclaimed the crown, jumping from the third spot in 2024 to lead the pack. Actor Ranveer Singh retained the second position with a valuation of USD 162.9 million, while cricket icon Virat Kohli slipped to third place at USD 158.4 million.
Overall, the combined brand value of India’s top 25 celebrities stands at USD 2.0 billion in 2025, reflecting a slight dip of 3.7% compared to the previous year.
Top 25 Indian celebrity brands of 2025
The 2025 rankings feature a powerhouse mix of Bollywood stars and sports icons, showcasing major shifts across entertainment and athletics.
| Celebrity | 2025 Rank Brand | Value (USD Mn) | 2024 Rank |
Shah Rukh Khan | 1 | 177.9 | 3 |
| Ranveer Singh | 2 | 162.9 | 2 |
| Virat Kohli | 3 | 158.4 | 1 |
Sachin Tendulkar | 4 | 125.9 | 5 |
Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 5 | 115.3 | 7 |
| Alia Bhatt | 6 | 93.9 | 4 |
Deepika Padukone | 7 | 89.2 | 7 |
| Hrithik Roshan | 8 | 88.9 | 9 |
| Amitabh Bachchan | 9 | 80.8 | 10 |
| Akshay Kumar | 10 | 80.0 | 6 |
| Ranbir Kapoor | 10 | 80.0 | 12 |
| Rashmika Mandanna | 12 | 75.2 | 15 |
| Salman Khan | 13 | 73.6 | 16 |
Rohit Sharma | 14 | 62.0 | 17 |
| Kareena Kapoor | 15 | 61.8 | 11 |
| Kartik Aaryan | 16 | 59.8 | 14 |
| Kiara Advani | 17 | 51.9 | 13 |
| Kriti Sanon | 18 | 50.2 | 19 |
| Ananya Panday | 19 | 48.5 | 25 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 20 | 44.6 | 22 |
| Samantha Ruth Prabhu | 21 | 43.1 | 28 |
| Tamannaah Bhatia | 22 | 36.5 | 21 |
| Janhvi Kapoor | 23 | 34.2 | 29 |
Shraddha Kapoor | 24 | 31.0 | 33 |
| Anushka Sharma | 25 | 29.9 | 17 |
Key movers: Cricket legends and rising stars gain ground
Cricket legends continues to command immense commercial power. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar climbed to No. 4 with USD 125.9 million, while former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni powered into the top 5 at USD 115.3 million, bolstered by a substantial surge in brand endorsements.
On the Bollywood front, several young stars registered impressive jumps in the rankings.
Ananya Panday climbed to No. 19 (USD 48.5 mn) from 25th position. Samantha Ruth Prabhu rose to No. 21 (USD 43.1 mn) from 28th position. Janhvi Kapoor jumped to No. 23 (USD 34.2 mn) from 29th position. Shraddha Kapoor moved up to No. 24 (USD 31.0 mn) from 33rd position. Alia Bhatt (No. 6, USD 93.9 mn) and Deepika Padukone (No. 7, USD 89.2 mn) lead among female stars, while Akshay Kumar and Ranbir Kapoor share the No. 10 spot at USD 80.0 million each.
Digital endorsements drive the new brand era
The study highlights a seismic shift toward digital platforms in celebrity endorsement strategies. While digital deals previously accounted for 40%–60% of endorsement portfolios, they now represent 60%–75% of total brand associations for leading stars in 2025.
Commenting on the dynamics shaping brand equity, Umakanta Panigrahi, managing director, Valuation Advisory Services at Kroll, noted that celebrity brand valuations are increasingly driven by a mix of digital relevance, social media engagement, and AI-led opportunities alongside traditional campaigns. He added that entrepreneurial ventures and digital-first engagement are defining the next wave of celebrity influence.
Highlighting the trend, Vinit Karnik, Business Head at GroupM ESP, observed that legacy icons like Shah Rukh Khan, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli retain incredible brand equity, while brands are also embracing emerging talent for relatable, culturally relevant engagement. He pointed out that sports stars, particularly cricketers, continue to dominate endorsement spaces due to their unmatched audience recall across India.