One of the most well-known Indians on social media is Jannat Zubair Rahmani, who is 23 years old. With an incredible 50 million followers, she outnumbers even Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai in popularity on Instagram. Although her Wikipedia page lists her as an actor, Jannat last appeared in a film in 2018, when she made a cameo in Rani Mukerji's Hichki. At that time, she was 16. Jannat has not starred in any fiction shows or films as an adult. However, she is succeeding in her career due to her immense online fame and Instagram. This is not just Jannat's story. Many social media-famous performers have come to the conclusion that they don't have to rely on acting jobs for their livelihood.

The way is paved by Gen Z celebrities

Although Jannat's situation may be an extreme one, many other former child actors are selective about the movies they choose but maintain their fame through social media. Avneet Kaur was a well-known figure by her adolescence; she started her television career at the age of eight. She has starred in just one other movie since making her debut as the main character in Tiku Weds Sheru in 2023, and that movie was released a year ago. Since the start of the pandemic, she has not starred in a television program. Nevertheless, her fame on social media is increasing. Out of her 32 million Instagram followers, perhaps just 5% are due to Virat Kohli's "like."

These young performers were raised as part of the Instagram generation. Before turning 18, they were already amassing more followers than Bollywood A-listers and had verified accounts in their early teens. The Millennial stars had to adjust to Instagram, but the Gen Z were created with it and shaped by it, as Bane remarked in The Dark Knight Rises. They make use of it in a way that no one else does. For example, at the worldwide premiere of Mission Impossible 8, Tom Cruise was greeted by just three Indians, including Jannat and Avneet. Their social media influence made it possible to not invite any journalists or A-list performers.

Why Actors Are Prioritizing Social Media

Older, relatively more established actors have also noticed this slowly and gradually. Consider Esha Gupta, for example. With Jannat, in 2012, the former Miss India made her Bollywood debut. In the following seven years, she starred in twelve more Hindi films, one Tamil film, and one Telugu movie. However, her last performance on the big screen was in One Day: Justice Delivered, which was released in 2019. Since then, she has starred in three online series, but the most recent of these was three years ago with Aashram season three. Despite this, she has become more well-known on social media. She has 19 million followers on Instagram, making her an A-lister.

Neha Sharma, known for Chirutha and Crook, was last seen in a full-length part in Jogira Sara Ra Ra in 2023. Niddhi Agerwal, who was formerly known as Telugu cinema's next big star, has only appeared in eight films since her 2017 debut, with the most recent one being released in November 2022. Without any movie releases during this time, she has gained 4 million Instagram followers. However, her 30 million Instagram followers make her one of the most popular selections for companies on social media.

According to digital marketers, performers are just prioritizing what is really their bread and butter. The majority of these celebrities make more money from social media and businesses than from films or online shows. Disha Patani and other active performers make more money off social media. According to industry sources, the actor makes between ₹5 and ₹6 crore annually from the two or three movies she produces, but social media and brands can bring in five times that amount in a year. Their decisions are influenced by that disparity.

Read Also: Shah Rukh Khan and Family Set to Return to Mannat? Gauri Khan Provides Renovation Update

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