7 social media influencers who shot to fame as film and web series actors in 2022
The year belonged to web content creators like Kusha Kapila, Prajakta Koli, Kareema Barry, Ajey Nagar, Sahil Khattar, Viraj Ghelani and Shirley Setia.
Mon, 10 Feb 2025
They have a huge fan base on social media, they can easily connect with their followers and they can be themselves in front of the camera. All of which makes this bunch of content creators and social media influencers hot property for film production houses. Here’s a list of social media influencers who made a smooth transition to acting and wowed us in films and web shows in 2022.
1. Kusha Kapila
A well-known digital creator, Kusha Kapila made her mark in films and web series in 2022. She appeared in Plan A Plan B alongside Riteish Deshmukh and Tamannaah Bhatia and was also part of Masaba Masaba 2.
2. Prajakta Koli
Popularly known as MostlySane, Prajakta Koli transitioned from YouTube to acting. She reprised her role as Dimple in Netflix’s Mismatched Season 2 and was also seen in Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani’s Jugjugg Jeeyo.
3. Kareema Barry
A rising social media influencer, Kareema Barry gained attention for her performance in the Netflix series Class, the Indian adaptation of Elite. Her strong on-screen presence helped her gain recognition in the entertainment industry.
4. Ajey Nagar (CarryMinati)
One of India’s biggest YouTubers, CarryMinati made his Bollywood debut in Ajay Devgn’s Runway 34. Though his role was small, it marked his entry into mainstream cinema, and his fans were excited to see him on the big screen.
5. Sahil Khattar
Sahil Khattar, known for his quirky content, successfully transitioned to acting. He played a key role in the sports biopic 83, where he portrayed the character of cricketer Syed Kirmani. His performance was widely appreciated.
6. Viraj Ghelani
A digital star with a strong fan base, Viraj Ghelani made his acting debut in Bollywood with Govinda Naam Mera, alongside Vicky Kaushal, Kiara Advani, and Bhumi Pednekar. His comic timing and screen presence impressed the audience.
7. Shirley Setia
Starting as a YouTuber and singer, Shirley Setia made her Bollywood debut in Nikamma, starring alongside Abhimanyu Dassani and Shilpa Shetty. She also featured in the Telugu film Krishna Vrinda Vihari, expanding her reach in regional cinema.
These influencers successfully made the leap from social media to mainstream entertainment, proving that talent and digital fame can open doors to larger opportunities in the film and web industry.