Women Stars Outshine Men in Brand Value Growth: Kroll Report

By: WE Staff | Monday, 29 September 2025

• Women’s brand value surged 29% in 2024 to $594 million
• Alia Bhatt emerged as the top-ranked woman, climbing to 4th overall with $116.4 million
• Women outperformed men on social media, with a 6% follower growth compared to just 2%

India’s celebrity brandscape is witnessing a decisive shift, with women emerging as the fastest-rising power players. According to Kroll’s 2024 Celebrity Brand Valuation Report, female stars strengthened their standing among the country’s 25 most powerful celebrities, recording a collective brand value of $594 million, a nearly 29% jump year-on-year. Male celebrities, in contrast, grew by only 2%, with their combined value rising to $1,436 million.

Alia Bhatt led the female charge, climbing to the fourth spot overall with a brand value of $116.4 million, up from fifth in 2023. She was followed by Deepika Padukone, who retained her stronghold at seventh with $102.9 million, matching cricket legend MS Dhoni’s valuation. Kriti Sanon delivered one of the sharpest leaps, moving from 27th to 19th, underscoring her expanding appeal. Meanwhile, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rashmika Mandanna, and Ananya Panday either entered or advanced within the Top 25, reflecting their growing reach across both regional markets and diverse brand categories.

While men still dominate in absolute numbers, the sharper growth curve among women underscores a clear momentum shift. Endorsement activity reinforces this trend: female celebrities in the Top 25 increased their brand associations from 198 in 2023 to 274 in 2024, compared to men, whose count inched up only slightly from 435 to 445. Additionally, on social media, women outpaced their male peers, gaining 6% more followers versus a modest 2% rise for men.

“India’s celebrity brandscape is gradually shifting towards female stars,” said Umakanta Panigrahi, MD, valuation advisory services, Kroll. “This sharper growth trajectory, combined with stronger digital engagement, signals that women are no longer just catching up; they are redefining the balance of influence in the brand endorsement ecosystem.”