LinkedIn has become an integral part of professional networking and job searches. With over 82 million users in India, it is the largest professional network in the country. LinkedIn provides a platform for professionals to build their network, follow leaders in their industry, and search for jobs. It has become an essential tool for both job seekers and recruiters.
With such a large user base, many Indian professionals and thought leaders have built up massive followings on LinkedIn. Followers look to these influencers for insights, inspiration, and opportunities. But who has the largest following in India? Let’s take a look at the LinkedIn users with the most followers in the country.
LinkedIn’s Growth in India
LinkedIn first entered the Indian market in 2011 and initially struggled to gain traction. However, the network’s growth accelerated rapidly starting around 2015. Some key facts about LinkedIn’s rise in India:
- LinkedIn had 8 million users in India in 2015. This number grew to over 62 million by 2019.
- India became LinkedIn’s fastest growing market in 2015.
- LinkedIn’s user base in India increased by over 40% from 2020 to 2021.
- As of 2022, India has become LinkedIn’s largest market outside of the United States with over 82 million users.
This massive growth sets the stage for the emergence of Indian influencers and thought leaders on the platform with follower counts in the millions.
The Top 10 Most Followed Indians on LinkedIn
Here are the 10 professionals with the most LinkedIn followers located in India as of October 2023:
Name | Followers | Profession |
---|---|---|
Narendra Modi | 6.4 million | Prime Minister of India |
Priyanka Chopra | 5.1 million | Actress, Producer |
Sachin Tendulkar | 3.6 million | Former Cricketer |
Shashi Tharoor | 3.2 million | Politician, Author |
Anand Mahindra | 3.1 million | Industrialist |
Rajan Anandan | 2.7 million | Investor, Startup Mentor |
Radhika Gupta | 2.6 million | Investment Professional |
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | 2.5 million | Entrepreneur |
Harsh Mariwala | 2.2 million | Entrepreneur |
Devdutt Pattanaik | 2.1 million | Mythologist, Author |
This list features business leaders, politicians, actors, athletes, and other professionals who have built up large followings by sharing their expertise and experiences.
Key Takeaways from the Top 10 List:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the most LinkedIn followers not just in India but globally. He leverages the platform to communicate policy announcements and initiatives to citizens.
- Priyanka Chopra is the only woman in the top 10. As a global entertainment icon, she provides insights into her multi-faceted career.
- Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik showcase how followers are drawn to their respective expertise in sports and mythology.
- Industrialists Anand Mahindra and Harsh Mariwala are sought after for their business acumen and leadership lessons.
- Politician Shashi Tharoor and investor Rajan Anandan are influential thought leaders in their domains.
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most followed person on LinkedIn in India with over 6.4 million followers. He also holds the distinction of being the most followed world leader on LinkedIn globally. Modi leverages LinkedIn to directly communicate with citizens and share updates on government initiatives and policies. Some key facts about his LinkedIn presence:
- Modi joined LinkedIn in January 2015 as he was campaigning to become Prime Minister. He quickly amassed over 1 million followers within 6 months.
- Modi’s LinkedIn posts get exceptionally high engagement in the form of likes, comments, and shares. Each post garners hundreds of thousands or even millions of views.
- He uses LinkedIn Live videos to address citizens directly on issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Modi provides behind-the-scenes views of diplomatic meetings and visits using the LinkedIn feed.
- He has used LinkedIn to directly communicate major policy decisions like demonetization in 2016.
Modi’s massive following on LinkedIn is a testament to his effective use of social media to build a direct connection with the public. His ability to drive high engagement levels allows him to spread his message rapidly to millions of citizens.
Priyanka Chopra
Actress and producer Priyanka Chopra is the only woman in the top 10 most followed Indians on LinkedIn with over 5.1 million followers. Chopra is one of India’s most popular and influential celebrities globally. She provides insights into her multifaceted career spanning Bollywood, Hollywood, entrepreneurship, and activism. Some key aspects of her LinkedIn presence:
- Chopra posts updates on major professional milestones like starring in Hollywood films and shows.
- She promotes her entrepreneurial ventures like her production company Purple Pebble Pictures and restaurant Sona.
- Chopra uses her platform to highlight causes like the education of girls in India through her The Priyanka Chopra Foundation.
- She offers advice from her own career experiences and journey as an inspiration to others.
- Her posts give a glimpse of the hard work and dedication behind her numerous achievements.
For her young fans and followers, Priyanka Chopra provides motivation to aim high and break barriers as an Indian woman achieving success globally across various fields. Her business and philanthropic initiatives also showcase how she leverages her platform and voice for impact.
Sachin Tendulkar
Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has amassed over 3.6 million followers on LinkedIn. He remains India’s most admired and celebrated sportsperson years after retiring from cricket. Tendulkar engages with his followers by providing updates on his business ventures and philanthropic activities. Key aspects of his LinkedIn presence are:
- Tendulkar shares insights from his iconic 24-year cricket career including lessons on excelling as an athlete.
- He promotes his entrepreneurial investments and partnerships including with brands like Apollo Tyres and TrueBlue.
- Tendulkar posts about his philanthropic work through the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation which supports disadvantaged children.
- He pays tribute to key figures in his career like coach Ramakant Achrekar who passed away in 2019.
- Tendulkar engages with fans by answering questions and responding to comments on his posts.
For cricket lovers, Sachin Tendulkar provides a nostalgic link to his legendary playing days. His insights on excelling in sports and life beyond it continue to inspire his dedicated fanbase.
Shashi Tharoor
Indian politician and author Shashi Tharoor has rapidly grown his LinkedIn following to over 3.2 million users. He is known for his intellectual speeches, wordplay, and thought-provoking books. On LinkedIn, Tharoor engages followers on a variety of subjects including:
- He contextualizes current affairs using his deep knowledge of history, political science, and international relations.
- Tharoor shares his views on politics, governance, and diplomacy in a non-partisan manner.
- He posts excerpts from his books, reviews, and literary events.
- As an avid quizzer, he tests followers with challenging trivia questions.
- Tharoor provides insights on the English language through playful word games.
For professionals and students interested in politics, governance, and language, following Shashi Tharoor provides thought-provoking and educational content delivered with wit and wisdom.
Anand Mahindra
Business tycoon Anand Mahindra is one of India’s most influential industry leaders with over 3.1 million LinkedIn followers. As Chairman of the Mahindra Group, his posts provide a glimpse into how a diversified global conglomerate operates. Key aspects of his content strategy include:
- Mahindra shares behind-the-scenes views of new Mahindra products and factories.
- He highlights innovation across the Mahindra Group companies.
- Mahindra posts about sustainability and social responsibility initiatives undertaken.
- He provides snippets of wisdom on business, leadership, and life.
- Mahindra interacts with his followers and answers their questions.
For business professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, Anand Mahindra provides valuable insights on running an industrial conglomerate with a humane, ethical, and eco-friendly approach. He presents a role model combining business success with compassion.
Rajan Anandan
Rajan Anandan is an influential business leader in India’s startup and venture capital sector. As ex-Managing Director of Google India and now a prolific angel investor, he commands a following of 2.7 million on LinkedIn. His posts offer fascinating insights into India’s rapidly evolving startup space. Some key themes in his content are:
- Profiles of promising startups he has invested in across sectors like edtech, fintech, and e-commerce.
- Sharing key trends and developments in India’s high-growth internet economy.
- Advice for entrepreneurs on topics like building great company culture.
- Interactions with fellow startup investors like Kunal Shah of CRED.
- Responding to follower questions on startup-related topics.
For those interested in India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, following Rajan Anandan provides a ringside view into this world through his prolific investments and industry connections.
Radhika Gupta
Investment professional Radhika Gupta has rapidly emerged as a leading voice in India’s finance domain. As CEO of Edelweiss Asset Management, she has built up a huge following of over 2.6 million LinkedIn followers. Her content provides valuable guidance on investing and personal finance. Some highlights include:
- Demystifying concepts like compounding and SIP investing with relatable examples.
- Candid discussions about managing personal finances and avoiding common money mistakes.
- Introducing innovative investment products offered by Edelweiss Mutual Fund.
- Motivational and inspirational quotes highlighting her personal journey and values.
- Views on developments in the capital markets and her outlook on specific sectors.
Radhika Gupta stands out as a young, insightful female voice in the male-dominated finance world. Her focus on simplifying investing makes her hugely popular among retail investors and youth.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneer in India’s biotechnology sector as the founder of Biocon. With over 2.5 million LinkedIn followers, she is one of the most prominent women business leaders in the country. Her content provides unique insights on:
- The growth story and innovations coming out of Biocon.
- Her perspectives on improving gender diversity and women’s leadership.
- Public health issues and solutions where biotechnology can help.
- Policy recommendations to develop India’s R&D and biotech ecosystem.
- Overcoming challenges as an entrepreneur to build a globally recognized Indian company.
Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneering role model for women entrepreneurs in India. She provides inspiration and advice for aspiring innovators and leaders through her trailblazing career.
Harsh Mariwala
Harsh Mariwala transformed FMCG company Marico into a leading consumer products giant before stepping down as Chairman in 2014. Today, he is among India’s most respected business mentors with 2.2 million LinkedIn followers. Mariwala’s content offers insights on:
- His journey building Marico into a reputed brand.
- Tips on effective business leadership and entrepreneurship.
- His current initiatives like Ascent Foundation which supports growth-stage entrepreneurs.
- Perspective on trends shaping consumer markets and the startup space.
- Advice for entrepreneurs on practical topics like scaling up and work-life balance.
Mariwala provides aspiring entrepreneurs a relatable role model combined with actionable advice based on his corporate leadership experience.
Devdutt Pattanaik
Devdutt Pattanaik has emerged as one of India’s most popular mythologists and authors demystifying ancient Hindu texts and beliefs. With over 2 million LinkedIn followers, he provides valuable insights on:
- Extracting management and leadership lessons from Hindu mythology.
- Interpreting mythology using a modern, rational lens.
- Linking Hindu philosophies to topical issues.
- Promoting his books, online courses, and other content on mythology.
- Responding to follower queries about the meanings behind Indian mythological tales.
For professionals interested in the wisdom of ancient Indian literature, Devdutt Pattanaik makes Hindu mythology accessible through practical interpretations.
Success Factors for Top LinkedIn Influencers
Some common factors that contribute to amassing a huge LinkedIn following in India:
- Being recognized experts in their domains – Whether it is IT, mythology, medicine, or commerce, these influencers are looked up to for their knowledge and authority in their fields.
- Sharing unique insider perspectives – Followers get access to exclusive stories, data, and insights these individuals are privy to based on their positions.
- Engaging communication style – They communicate complex subjects in simple, relatable ways using stories, humor, and Q&A.
- Thought leadership and original thinking – Their ideas, frameworks, and recommendations are valued greatly by their audience.
- Strong personal brands – Most have become brand ambassadors for their organizations and even larger causes in their domains.
- Responsive engagement – They interact with their audience through comments, messages, and offline events.
While their individual styles vary, these factors contribute heavily towards building authority and loyalty among followers seeking to learn from the very best in their fields.
Conclusion
LinkedIn has democratized access to leading professionals and subject matter experts who previously were inaccessible to the general public. Indians have embraced LinkedIn influencers from diverse fields who provide unique value through their posts and engagement. While their followers run into the millions, each influencer fills a specific niche for their target audience.
Followers can gain motivation, knowledge, insights, and connections by leveraging India’s top LinkedIn voices in areas of interest to them. Exposure to accomplished leaders also inspires professionals early in their careers to aim higher. Hopefully, this list of the most followed Indians on LinkedIn helps followers discover influencers who can add value to their feed and networks.