In terms of its impact, Instagram is among the most popular social media sites worldwide, and India is no exception. Not all of the millions of people who follow brands, influencers, and celebrities are genuine. The question of who has the most fake Instagram followers in India is more pertinent than ever because a sizable portion of Instagram audiences are made up of inactive or fake accounts.
It’s crucial to realize that fake followers are typically bots, inactive users, or accounts made purely for the purpose of increasing numbers before delving into the rankings. Fake followers are sometimes a result of being extremely popular and don’t always indicate that the influencer or celebrity purchased them.
Let’s now examine the rankings and figures in the following section.
Table: Who Has the Most Fake Followers on Instagram in India Ranking
| Celebrity / Influencer | Total Followers (Approx) | Estimated Fake Followers (%) | Estimated Fake Followers (Count) |
| Priyanka Chopra Jonas | 91 Million+ | 14% | 12.7 Million+ |
| Virat Kohli | 270 Million+ | 11% | 29.7 Million+ |
| Shraddha Kapoor | 86 Million+ | 13% | 11.1 Million+ |
| Deepika Padukone | 78 Million+ | 12% | 9.3 Million+ |
| Alia Bhatt | 85 Million+ | 11% | 9.3 Million+ |
| Katrina Kaif | 76 Million+ | 12% | 9.1 Million+ |
| Akshay Kumar | 70 Million+ | 10% | 7 Million+ |
Why Fake Followers Exist on Instagram
Public figures with large followings frequently have fake followers. The following are some reasons why this happens:
- Bot-generated accounts: To give the impression that celebrities are more powerful, businesses build bots that follow them.
- Inactive users: A large number of accounts are deleted after they are created, but they are still listed as “followers.”
- Purchased followers: Some celebrities or influencers may buy followers to boost their image, though this practice often backfires.
- Spam accounts’ natural attraction: Spam accounts frequently follow people with millions of followers automatically in an attempt to look authentic.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas – Leading the Fake Follower Count
The Indian user with the most fake Instagram followers is Priyanka Chopra Jonas. According to reports, 12.7 million accounts, or nearly 14% of her audience, are fraudulent out of her total of over 91 million followers.
Her enormous global following as an actress, producer, and now Hollywood star draws a sizable audience, but it also draws phony accounts that pretend to be associated with well-known people.
Virat Kohli – The King of Followers in India
With more than 270 million Instagram followers, Virat Kohli is the most popular Indian user. Nevertheless, it is estimated that 11% of his audience is fraudulent, or close to 29.7 million phony accounts. Because of his enormous fan base, even though the percentage is lower than Priyanka’s, there are far more fake followers overall.
Shraddha Kapoor – Surprising Numbers
Compared to Priyanka and Deepika, Shraddha Kapoor is frequently overlooked, but she has a huge following on Instagram. Approximately 13% of her more than 86 million followers are deemed to be fraudulent, meaning she has more than 11 million phony followers. She is ranked among the top fake-follower holders, despite her strong affinity for younger audiences.
Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt
Approximately 12% of Deepika Padukone’s nearly 78 million followers are fraudulent (9.3 million accounts). In the meantime, Alia Bhatt, who has nearly as many followers as Shraddha, has 11% of them as fake, which comes to roughly 9.3 million accounts.
Both actresses are well-known in Bollywood, and because of their fame, a lot of fake accounts are created.
Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar
Approximately 12% of Katrina Kaif’s 76 million followers—more than 9 million—are fraudulent. In a similar vein, Akshay Kumar has 70 million followers, 10% of whom are fake accounts, or 7 million fake followers.
Even though their numbers are marginally lower than those of Priyanka and Virat, they are still noteworthy enough to rank first.
Impact of Fake Followers on Celebrities and Brands
At first glance, fake followers might not seem like a problem, but they can have an impact on engagement, reputation, and even brand partnerships.
- Reduced Engagement Rate: Poor interaction rates result from fake accounts not liking, sharing, or commenting.
- Brand Trust Issues: If the audience is not genuine, businesses that pay for endorsements may feel defrauded.
- Skewed Perception: Exaggerated follower counts could be a misrepresentation of true influence.
- Algorithm Impact: Since Instagram’s algorithm values interaction over quantity, having phony followers can actually reduce visibility.
Can Celebrities Remove Fake Followers?
Yes, but it’s not that simple. In order to audit their followers and eliminate questionable accounts, celebrities can use tools or agencies. However, having a fully “clean” following is practically impossible because fake accounts continue to grow naturally.
The Psychology Behind Fake Followers
Social proof is one of the reasons why celebrities might put up with phony fans. A greater number of followers conveys a sense of authority and influence. Even if some of the followers are fraudulent, fans are more inclined to follow an account that already has millions of followers.
Final Thoughts
It’s obvious who has the most phony Instagram followers in India: Virat Kohli leads in absolute numbers, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas leads in percentage. Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone also seem to be highly ranked.
Fake followers might not entirely disappear, but brands and celebrities alike are learning to value interaction over quantity. Being followed by millions of people in the digital age does not always imply that those millions are real.
FAQs on Who Has the Most Fake Followers on Instagram in India Ranking
Who in India has the most phony Instagram followers?
A: With almost 14% of her followers being fake, or about 12.7 million accounts, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is at the top of the list.
Is Virat Kohli’s fan base phony?
A: He has about 29.7 million phony Instagram followers, even though he is the most followed Indian user.
Q: Do celebrities always purchase phony followers?
A: Not always. Numerous phony accounts emerge as a result of spam activity or follow celebrities automatically.
Which actress has the most phony fans?
A: Priyanka Chopra and Shraddha Kapoor have some of the highest percentages, at 13–14%.
Do phony followers have an impact on brand agreements?
A: It’s true that brands like real interaction, and having too many phony followers can undermine campaign success and trust.
Is it possible to get rid of phony followers entirely?
A: No, but audits and Instagram’s recurring purge of fraudulent accounts can help lower them.
Why do famous people continue to maintain phony fan bases?
A high number of followers offers influence and social proof, which can occasionally offset the drawbacks of phony followers.
