Will the real Shraddha Kapoor please stand up?

When Shraddha Kapoor, the most followed Indian woman on Instagram (she has 94.1 million besotted fans—a number that beats Angelina Jolie and Donald Trump’s combined following), says she doesn’t have a social media strategy, you are bound to think she’s bullshitting. “I post what I feel like. I don’t share everything, but what I do share is me,” she says pointedly.

It’s true, as far as celebrities go, she is almost universally relatable. Take her feed, for instance: She’s steaming her face in sweatpants with a towel wrapped around her head. She’s goofing around in Harry Potter glasses. She’s coddling her Yorkshire terrier Small, toy poodle Smoosh, and Lhasa Apso Shyloh (who has almost thrice as many followers as me). And then she appears in designer couture and on the red carpet, a jaw-droppingly glam reminder that she is in fact a legit celebrity and a Bollywood star.

So, who is the real Shraddha Kapoor? The bare faced actor, popping paani puris, grabbing coffee, watching Schitt’s Creek and posting from her bedroom we routinely see on Instagram? Or a consciously cultivated digital persona? "I’ve fully cultivated it. I’m actually a monster on the loose. Half-bhootni, half-human in real life," she quips, breaking into a big laugh. Kapoor swears there’s no “magic formula”. Her feed is an actual representation of her, contradictions and all. She is at once, the carefree millennial who cherishes the everyday joys of life, and the star who can transform into a paparazzo muse at a moment’s notice.

Unlike the usually guarded celebrities, who are masters at portraying celebrity mystique, Kapoor’s virtual half seems unfiltered, displaying an informality that sometimes veers towards the self-deprecating and even silly. It’s perhaps what makes her so popular—she treats her Instagram like her family group chat. Exhibit one: Her cheeky New Year’s Eve post (“True or False??? Mein aaj 11 baje so jaoongi.”) or her entrepreneur ingenuity for Valentines (“Gift do gift Valentine’s pe/ Bohot hua ‘Heartfelt’”). Yes—sense of humour and fun social engagement, but with a solid side of business.

You’d assume her screen time is off-the-charts, like anyone with a significant following. But IRL, she’s surprisingly detached from her phone. During our hour-long chat, she doesn’t glance at her phone once—not a buzz, not a peek. Fully present, entirely in the moment—such a rarity in our always-online world. “The numbers don’t mean much to me,” she says, brushing off our collective obsession with stats. “What truly matters is the bond I’ve built with my Insta fam. When they comment, interact, or share these little moments—those connections are everything.” So, while stats may not matter as much, engagement does. And she knows how to keep this going. You see this in her cheeky replies to comments from fans: when one asked her to upload her Aadhaar card photo, Kapoor replied saying she looked so good in it, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.

She’s adored by her fans—a fact that is verified repeatedly in her comments sections where adulation comes in the form of heart-shaped emojis, even by the likes of blue-ticked allies, Tabu and Varun Dhawan. If you’ve followed her long enough, you may think you know her well. But is there anything we still don’t know about her IRL? “I’m addicted to grocery shopping! To the point that if someone at home doesn’t have a list ready, it disturbs my equilibrium,” she laughs. “I get super excited about calling for ghar ka samaan—you know, like sabzi, cleaning supplies, the works. At any given time, I’ll have three or four apps open, comparing which one will deliver them fastest,” she grins about her very mundane guilt pleasure. “I think I’d make a great house manager,” adding to her never-ending list of potential career options. “Actually, if I were to switch professions for a day, I’d love to work in an animal shelter. I find dogs so much better than humans,” says the dog parent. 

Unlike most of her contemporaries, you rarely see her mingling with other star kids; her core group, Kapoor says, consists of her old school and building friends. Is it such simple, girl-next-door acts that have led to digital dominance? “I don’t think I’m ‘simple.’ Sure, I might approach certain things straightforwardly, but there are others I can be deeply complex about,” she says.

Between her humour, warmth, wit, madcap Hindi captions, and obvious beauty—her internet interactions feel both personal and genuine. Even when we meet, I can’t help but gaze (a bit longer than appropriate) at her flawless skin, minimal makeup, and big smile. She disarms with ease, and you can’t help but drop your guard around her. As we sit at her friend’s home in Bandra to chat, she nudges me to eat a sandwich, not once but twice, with the kind of familiarity that makes me doubt if we have only met twice. “People tell me their deepest, darkest secrets—stuff they wouldn’t tell anyone else. And then, they ask me for advice, and I’m like, ‘Oh, okay.’ Later, I’m told I give pretty good advice, so I think I’d make a great therapist for sure,” she says, as if she needed yet another career to add to that list.

But don’t let her ease and humility fool you. Kapoor’s list of achievements is growing. Just last year, she headlined one of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters, Stree 2 (2024). The horror-comedy shattered records, raked in over ₹600 crore at the Indian box office to become the highest-grossing Hindi film—a monumental feat for an industry still reeling from the stream-at-home effects of the pandemic. In the sequel, she reprises her role, this time revealing herself as the daughter of a vengeful spirit central to the storyline. Despite her character’s pivotal impact, her screen time is limited—a creative decision that filmmaker Amar Kaushik used to heighten the intrigue. “As always, I surrendered to the director’s vision. I mean, no one knows the film or its characters better than him, so who best to take guidance from,” she explains.

Like her laid-back approach to her social media ascent, she insists that her film career has never been calculated. Over the past 15 years, Kapoor has appeared in 20 films, counting cameos and special appearances. “You know, my father [the legendary Shakti Kapoor] didn’t make calls for me—I auditioned for every role—I was, and still am, privileged to work with so many directors and explore so many characters,” she says.

But even one of India’s highest-paid actresses isn’t immune to failures. Kapoor’s debut, Teen Patti (2010), tanked at the box office, and her follow-up, Luv Ka The End (2011), didn’t fare much better. Her break came two years later with Mohit Suri’s Aashiqui 2 (2013), where she captivated audiences as Aarohi, a small-town bar singer who rises to fame as a playback artist. “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is from my mom [Shivangi Kolhapure]. She told me that even if you have the toughest day, it’s okay, it’ll pass. Try again. And you may never have the same kind of day again,” she shares.

I kind of live in my own bubble—living life on my own terms, making my own rules. I’m clear: I don’t want to be part of any rat race.

On her Instagram, heavily trafficked by fans, there are detractors, far and few as they may be, but determined to prove them wrong, she brings to them her unfailingly sunny presence. “I kind of live in my own bubble—living life on my own terms, making my own rules,” she says, “I’m clear: I don’t want to be part of any rat race.” Why would you, if you’ve got your own lane, and a supporting crew to cheer you on.

After capturing our screens and our smartphones, she’s now laser-focused on growing bigger and better. A budding entrepreneur, she has co-founded Palmonas, a demi-fine jewellery brand that mirrors her style and sensibilities. “I was a customer first, so to then co-found the brand just felt right. Collaborating with brands is no different from choosing a film—it has to align with who I am and what I’m passionate about,” she explains.  

What’s next? And Kapoor has a lot to add. Her roster of films could shut a job interviewer grilling you about your five-year plans. In 2025, there’s Thama, her Diwali release, and Shakti Shalini, planned around the new year. In 2026, there’s Bhediya 2 in August and Chamunda in December. In 2027, Stree 3 and Maha Munjya, and in 2028, Pehla Mahayudh and Doosra Mahayudh. But she’s never been the all-work-no-play kind of girl. Also chalked for 2025 is her personal wishlist: make meaningful cinema, eat incredible food, must snuggle with dogs, must spend time with loved ones, write, read, dance, doodle, and cross paths with a series of fascinating people.

Maybe, sometimes what you see is really what you get on Instagram—Kapoor seems to be a woman who is genuinely just doing her thing, as she enjoys the proverbial ride and amasses millions and millions of followers along the way.

Editorial Direction: Megha Mahindru, Ridhima Sapre. Photography: Max Hoell. Fashion and Creative Direction: Priyanka Kapadia. Visual and Creative Direction: Jay Modi. Art and Creative Direction: Harry Iyer. Style Lead: Naheed Driver. Make-Up Artist: Riviera Lynn. Hairstylist: Mitesh Rajani. Set Design: Purnima Nath. Styling Assistant: Kashish Jain. Production: Imran Khatri Production