10. Lakshya Sen Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach the semi-finals in men’s singles. His “matrix” shot went viral online.
9. Abhishek Sharma Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma scored the fastest IPL fifty in 2024. He also smashed a maiden domestic century in just 46 balls against Zimbabwe.
8. Radhika Merchant Radhika Merchant, daughter-in-law of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, was ranked as the eighth most searched individual in India in 2024.
7. Poonam Pandey Model Poonam Pandey sparked controversy by faking her death for a cervical cancer awareness campaign. While it generated attention, her death hoax faced widespread criticism.
6. Shashank Singh Shashank Singh, picked by ‘accident’ by Preity Zinta’s IPL team, delivered a stellar performance. His success made him one of India’s most searched personalities in 2024.
5. Pawan Kalyan Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister since June 2024, Pawan Kalyan, known as “Power Star,” was the fifth most searched person on Google this year.
4. Hardik Pandya All-rounder Hardik Pandya was in the spotlight for his professional achievements and personal life, ranking fourth in India’s most searched personalities of 2024.
3. Chirag Paswan Son of late Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan transitioned from acting to politics. He secured a ministerial role in Modi’s 3.0 cabinet in 2024.
2. Nitish Kumar Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returned to the BJP-led NDA in January 2024. Memes about his political shift flooded social media after the Lok Sabha election results.
1. Vinesh Phogat Vinesh Phogat, India’s most searched personality, became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Paris Olympics final. Disqualified for being overweight, she later entered politics and won Haryana’s Julana seat as an MLA.