Remembering Young Indian Creators: The Hidden Pressures and Mental Health Challenges Behind Social Media Fame

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In an age where social media stardom suggests long careers and abundant opportunities, recent untimely deaths of several young Indian influencers have been a rude reminder of how fragile life can be behind the screen. We reflect upon five popular creators whose lives ended far too soon.

Anunay Sood, 32

Anunay Sood, a 32-year-old Dubai-based travel influencer and photographer, died on November 6, 2025. The news was announced by his family in a post on Instagram, asking for quiet time and no gatherings near their home. The cause of his death is not publicly known.

Sood acquired a following of 1.4 million on Instagram and 384,000 on YouTube. He had traveled to scores of countries, worked with leading tourism boards and brands, and featured in Forbes India's Top 100 Digital Stars for three consecutive years (2022-24).

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News of his death has been received with shock and tributes from within the digital travel community. Friends close to him recalled that just days before his death, they chatted about planning an F1 trip together.

Misha Agrawal, 24

Misha Agrawal, a social media influencer and entrepreneur, died by suicide on April 24, 2025, just two days before what would have been her 25th birthday. A report by The Economic Times explained that her family confirmed she was under intense pressure involving her social media follower count and the ‘one-million-follower’ milestone.

When she passed away, her Instagram account had almost 350,000 followers, and she owned a haircare line. Apart from discussing and even debating the mental health issue in such cases, the influence of social media validation, and the non-visible hardships of living a 'perfect' life online were also among the main issues raised by her demise.

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Aanvi Kambar, 27

Anvi Kamdar, a Mumbai-based travel influencer and a former chartered accountant, was killed in July 2024. While taking a video for Instagram during the rainy season, she and some friends visited the Kumbhe waterfall, where she slipped and fell into a 300-foot-deep gorge.

After the six-hour-long rescue operation, she was still taken to a hospital but succumbed to her wounds. Her unfortunate incident brought to light the dangers that can accompany the 'content creation' process in high-adrenaline situations.

Ankit Kalra, 29

Ankit Kalra was a digital creator and the husband of influencer Insha Ghaii Kalra. He died in August 2024 at the age of 29. The reason has been suddenly reported, with some sources mentioning cardiac arrest. His death remains a significant reminder of health risks among younger adults who constantly produce under the pressure of the influencer economy.

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Surbhi Jain, 30

Surbhi Jain was a fashion-and-lifestyle influencer who shared her cancer journey on social media and died in April 2024 at the age of about 30. Throughout her treatment, she was very open with her audience, and her legacy consists of strength and honesty during illness.

What Happens Behind the Perfect Posts?

Although their lives were far from identical, each of these creators left an imprint through travel stories, style guides, candid reflections, or brand journeys. Their premature passing underlines the need for a balance between visibility and authenticity, ambition and health, creation and self-care.

To the followers and fellow creators alike, these events provide a moment for pause-to consider the human beyond the handle, to question the pressures of "always on" production, and to check in on the unseen.

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In memory of Anunay Sood, Misha Agrawal, Aanvi Kamdar, Ankit Kalra, and Surbhi Jain, let us not forget their contributions and may their loss raise the awareness of well-being in this digital age.