In the age of social media virality, fans don’t just watch their favourite stars—they become them. Or at least look startlingly like them. From Instagram reels to full-fledged acting debuts, doppelgängers of Bollywood’s biggest celebrities are popping up everywhere, racking up followers, likes, and sometimes, even film deals.
These uncanny lookalikes aren’t just sparking double takes—they’re rewriting the rules of internet fame. Welcome to the wild, mirror-world of Bollywood lookalikes.
From Background to Spotlight: How It All Began
Lookalikes have always existed—performing at events, winning contests, mimicking stars for laughs. But social media has transformed them into viral sensations. Platforms like TikTok (before its India ban), Instagram Reels, and YouTube have turned everyday users into near-celebs just by virtue of their familiar faces. What used to be a quirky coincidence is now an entire content genre.
Lookalikes Who Took Over the Internet
Celesti Bairagey – Alia Bhatt’s Assamese Avatar
When Celesti recreated a Gangubai scene on social media, her resemblance to Alia Bhatt was so jaw-dropping that casting directors took notice. She was soon launched as a TV lead in Rajjo—a dream that many in her place might not have dared to imagine.
Alina Rai – The Katrina Kaif of Reels
In the world of viral doppelgängers, Alina Rai is often dubbed “the Katrina Kaif of Instagram”—but she’s never been comfortable living in someone else’s shadow. While her resemblance to the Tiger Zinda Hai star is undeniable, Alina has made it clear she wants to be celebrated for who she is, not whom she reminds people of. She told ETimes, ““When I came to Mumbai, people started telling me that I resembled Katrina Kaif. It was then that I realised that I look like her. I never wanted that to be the reason why people recognised me. I have my own identity and my own looks, and I would always prefer it to be my own,” Alina says. “In filmy style, if I would like to conclude, ‘Main apni favourite hoon!’”
Often seen in glamorous desi wear and bridal shoots that go viral, Alina’s social media presence is strong and stylised—but so is her voice. While she appreciates comparisons to Katrina, she’s more focused on carving her own path in the industry.
She added, “I am now a part of showbiz, and in this field one is bound to be compared with another—be it in terms of looks, attires or panache. Katrina Kaif is a talented actress. I have always admired her. She has worked so hard to be where she is today, and I too want to create my own identity in Bollywood,” she says.
I would love to be known as Alina Rai and not Katrina’s lookalike. I would like people to love me for who I am and the space I am creating for myself individually.”
And she’s backing that determination with work—Alina even featured in a popular music video titled ‘Kamaal Hai’ alongside rapper Badshah, stepping firmly into the limelight on her own terms.
Rijuta Ghosh Deb – Deepika Padukone’s Double Take
Content creator Rijuta became a mini-celeb with her Deepika-style reels. Whether it’s the Gehraiyaan look or red carpet glam, she nails it—and racks up views in the process.
Ibrahim Qadri – SRK’s Most Unbelievable Twin
One glance at Ibrahim Qadri, and you’d be forgiven for thinking Shah Rukh Khan had decided to take a quiet walk through a Gujarat market. With his tousled hair, disarming dimples, and that signature SRK-style intensity in his eyes, Qadri’s resemblance to the superstar is nothing short of surreal. But behind the internet fame lies a humble, hard-working story.
He said, “When I was around 15 or 16, people started calling me Shah Rukh Khan,” Ibrahim recalls with a chuckle. “Even in school, college—wherever I went—people said, ‘Yeh toh bilkul SRK jaisa dikhta hai.’”
Yet, looking like SRK wasn’t something he deliberately cultivated. Growing up in Junagadh, a small town in Gujarat, Ibrahim’s focus was on making ends meet, not mirroring a movie star.
He added, “I used to do wall painting—hoardings and shop signs—just to earn a living,” he says. “There wasn’t much at home, so whatever little I earned went into food and bills.”
It wasn’t until 2017, when Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees hit theatres, that things changed. Ibrahim, already sporting a beard similar to SRK’s character in the film, suddenly found himself in the middle of a real-life frenzy.
He further shared, “I already had a beard like in Raees, and when people saw me, they just went crazy. That’s when social media picked me up, and followers started pouring in,” he shares. “I’d go to parties or public places, and people would scream, cry, and even pull me. I didn’t even know how to handle it at first.”