From Social Media To Films: Influencers Who Made Their Acting Debut
From Prajakta Koli to Bhuvan Bam, here’s a look at the digital stars who turned internet fame into full-fledged acting debuts.
There was a time when going viral on YouTube or Instagram was seen as a separate kind of fame – fun, massive, but still miles away from films and web shows. That’s clearly not the case anymore. Bollywood’s hottest new casting agency is literally just the Instagram Explore page. The influencer-to-actor pipeline has officially become Bollywood’s favourite new scouting ground. Gone are the days when digital creators were just internet famous – now, they’re holding their own against A-listers, headlining OTT blockbusters, and walking the red carpet at Cannes.
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Over the last few years, a bunch of digital stars have gone from making sketches, roast videos, comic reels and lifestyle content to landing proper acting gigs on OTT and in movies. Some started with supporting roles, while others surprised everyone by leading full-blown series. And as of 2026, the line between a YouTuber and a movie star has completely blurred, with these creators leading the charge.
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Here’s a look at the social media stars who traded ring lights for the silver screen:
1. Prajakta Koli
Prajakta Koli, better known to millions as MostlySane, is easily one of the biggest examples of a creator turning actor. After building a huge fanbase through relatable YouTube content, she made her acting debut with Netflix’s ‘Mismatched’ in 2020, where she played Dimple opposite Rohit Saraf. The series gave her a full-fledged lead role and helped her move beyond the influencer label. She later made her Hindi film debut with Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani’s ‘JugJugg Jeeyo’. In late 2025, she again won hearts with her performance in ‘Single Papa’. Fans also went into a frenzy during her surprise cameo in the 2025 theatrical release ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’, where she reunited with Rohit Saraf.
2. Bhuvan Bam
Bhuvan Bam had already become a digital phenomenon with ‘BB Ki Vines’, but his mainstream acting breakthrough came with Disney+ Hotstar’s ‘Taaza Khabar’ (2023). Playing Vasya, Bhuvan showed he could anchor an entire fictional series, not just dominate YouTube through multiple comic characters. By early 2026, Bhuvan Bam moved into high-stakes drama with ‘The Revolutionaries’ on Amazon Prime Video, a gritty period piece where he plays an armed resistance fighter. Beyond OTT, he’s set to make his major Bollywood leading debut in ‘Kuku Ki Kundali’ (2026) opposite Wamiqa Gabbi. His ability to produce, write, and act in his own massive projects like ‘Dhindora’ – which is also eyeing a second season this year – makes him a unique powerhouse in the industry.
3. Kusha Kapila
Kusha Kapila made her acting debut in the 2020 Netflix anthology ‘Ghost Stories’, in which she worked under Karan Johar’s direction. That first film appearance was a big shift from her hugely popular social media personas and satire videos. From there, she went on to feature in films such as ‘Sukhee’, ‘Selfiee’ and ‘Thank You For Coming’. In March 2026, she’s back in the spotlight for her role as high-energy advocate in the second season of Netflix’s courtroom comedy, ‘Maamla Legal Hai’.
4. Harsh Beniwal
Harsh Beniwal’s jump from internet comedy to Bollywood happened with ‘Student of the Year 2’ in 2019. He became one of the earliest Indian YouTubers to score a visible role in a mainstream Dharma film. Known for his energetic youth-centric sketches, Harsh used the film as a big-screen launchpad and instantly became part of the conversation around creators crossing into Bollywood. His work in the web series ‘Campus Diaries’ also made him a go-to actor for youth-centric dramas.
5. Dolly Singh
Dolly Singh became a favourite on social media with her sharply observed characters and influencer-era comedy, and then gradually moved into acting. One of her earliest major acting appearances came with Netflix’s ‘Bhaag Beanie Bhaag’ (2020), which helped open the door to more screen work. She later appeared in titles like ‘Double X’L’ and ‘Thank You For Coming’, proving that her transition was not a one-project experiment. In October 2025, Dolly made history as the first Indian creator to win Instagram’s Golden Ring award.
6. Anubhav Singh Bassi
Anubhav Singh Bassi, who became hugely popular online through stand-up clips and YouTube videos, made his acting debut with ‘Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar’. Starring alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, Anubhav didn’t enter with a tiny blink-and-miss part either – he had a solid supporting role.
7. Mallika Dua
Mallika Dua was one of the earliest internet comedy stars to make the leap to films. After becoming popular for her viral characters and social media humour, she appeared in the 2017 film ‘Hindi Medium’, which starred the late Irrfan Khan in the lead role. At a time when creators entering films was still relatively new, Mallika’s move felt like one of the first clear signals that the industry was starting to pay attention to internet fame. She followed it up with several acting stints in projects like ‘The Trip’, ‘Indoo Ki Jawani’ and ‘Badtameez Dil’.
8. Mithila Palkar
Mithila Palkar was one of the first creators to bridge the gap between viral internet sensation and serious actor. From the famous ‘Cup Song’ to the cult favourite series ‘Little Things’, Mithila built a massive following. She later worked with top stars like Kajol and Irrfan Khan in titles like ‘Karwaan’ and ‘Tribhanga’. Mithila recently appeared in ‘Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos’ alongside Vir Das and Mona Singh. She is next set to star in the highly anticipated horror-comedy ‘Bhooth Bangla’ alongside Akshay Kumar, marking a massive milestone in her filmography.
9. Viraj Ghelani
Viraj Ghelani, known for his hilarious Gujarati family sketches, has become a favourite for directors looking for organic comic timing. After appearing in ‘Govinda Naam Mera’ (2022) and holding his own in a viral role in Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ (2023), Viraj is now taking on more substantial parts. In February 2026, he appeared in ‘Do Deewane Seher Mein’.
10. Sahil Khattar
Sahil Khattar transitioned from hosting viral YouTube vox-pops to playing the legendary Syed Kirmani in the cricket epic ‘83’ (2021). Since then, he has focused on more intense roles, such as his bone-chilling performance in ‘200 Halla Ho’. He later appeared in ‘Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout’ alongside Manoj Bajpayee.
11. Barkha Singh
While Barkha Singh started as a child artist, she truly found her massive audience through digital sketches and web series like ‘Engineering Girls’ and ‘Please Find Attached’. In 2025, she delivered a standout performance in the gritty series ‘Criminal Justice: A Family Matter’, proving she has the emotional depth for serious drama. Barkha’s career now includes projects like ‘The Sabarmati Report’, ‘Masaba Masaba’, ‘Maja Ma’, ‘36 Farmhouse’ and ‘Lafangey’.
12. Ajey Nagar
Ajey Nagar, better known as CarryMinati, made his Bollywood debut with ‘Runway 34’. The film may not have given him a traditional dramatic arc, but it still marked his first appearance in a mainstream Hindi movie alongside Ajay Devgn and Amitabh Bachchan.
What makes all of this interesting is that these crossovers no longer feel like one-off experiments. The creator world has become a real talent pool for casting directors and studios, especially when it comes to youth-driven stories and OTT projects.
