Four Indian-origin content creators on Time's list of top 100. Who are they?

India Today

11-07-2025

Four Indian-origin content creators – Dhar Mann, Michelle Khare, Samir Chaudry, and Jay Shetty – have earned a coveted spot on the inaugural Time100 Creators List, which celebrates 100 most influential digital creators shaping culture, conversations, and communities around the world.Indian YouTuber and actor Prajakta Koli was also featured – the only Indian to make it to the list.The first-ever list includes creators from 15 countries, divided into five categories: Titans, Entertainers, Leaders, Phenoms, and Catalysts.advertisement
In the Titans category, 41-year-old Dhar was acknowledged for his scripted YouTube shorts that highlight moral teachings and promote social values.With over 25 million subscribers, his YouTube channel delivers cinematic short films that tackle issues like bullying, abandonment, and resilience through powerful moral storytelling.The digital creator is a two-time nominee for Favourite Male Creator at Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards, according to Time magazine.He studied at the University of California, earning degrees in Economics and Political Science, according to Fandom.MICHELLE KHARE NAMED UNDER THE LEADERS CATEGORYIndian-American YouTuber Michelle Khare was named under the Leaders category. She gained acclaim for her hit YouTube series "Challenge Accepted", which has over five million subscribers.Khare faced the sting of job rejections initially. "When I was a kid, my dream job was to be a Disney Imagineer," she wrote on Instagram in June."I applied after college but didn't get the job. I had no idea that rejection would take me on my own creative path to start my YouTube channel," she added.Today, over 5 million subscribers tune in to watch Khare take on some of the most stressful jobs and stunts in the world — from training to master Harry Houdini's underwater box escape, to attending the FBI Academy, to auditioning for the University of Kentucky's top-ranked cheer team, according to Time.Born in 1992 in Louisiana, US, she reportedly graduated from Dartmouth College in 2012 with a Bachelor's degree in Digital Arts and Media Technology.FORMER MONK AND PODCASTER JAY SHETTY ALSO FEATUREDBritish-Indian Jay Shetty, an acclaimed author and podcaster, also features in the Leaders category. His podcast, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, regularly secures a top spot on Spotify's US health and fitness charts.Author, podcaster, and former monk Jay Shetty built a global following by translating ancient wisdom for the modern world. Drawing on lessons from his time as a monk, including in a Hindu monastery, Shetty offers guidance on everything from heartbreak to self-worth through his podcast, Time reported.Whether he's speaking with Oprah, actor Tom Holland, or the singer and rapper Lizzo, the 37-year-old aims to help people navigate life's challenges with clarity and intention, the magazine said.advertisementHe has more than 22 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, plus another 9 million across his two YouTube channels.He was born to Indian parents and was raised in London.He earned a first-class honours degree in management science from Cass Business School in 2010, according to his bio on his website.SAMIR CHAUDRY ALSO EARNS SPOT IN TIME's LEADERS CATEGORYSamir Chaudry, 35, also appeared in the Leaders' category along with Colin Rosenblum, his creative collaborator on the popular YouTube channel "Colin and Samir".The duo – Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry – have been making videos together for over a decade and have become go-to interviewers for digital stars on their namesake YouTube channel.After meeting in 2012, the pair built and sold a digital media network focused on the sport. By 2017, they had launched the Colin and Samir channel on YouTube and shifted their focus to the creator economy, according to Time.With nearly 1.6 million subscribers, they're now known for hosting candid conversations with the biggest names in the business – including MrBeast, Emma Chamberlain, and Amelia Dimoldenberg – offering an insider's look at how creators build their careers, the magazine reported.advertisementColin and Samir's platform has since expanded to include a podcast and the "Publish Press", a newsletter covering creator news and trends, it reported.Samir was born in 1989 in Santa Monica, California.He studied film and digital media, with a focus on cinematography and film production, at the University of California, Santa Cruz.- Ends