India’s Over-50 Influencers Are Building Careers, Not Just Content

India’s creator economy is no longer driven only by Gen Z and millennials. A growing number of Indians in their 50s, 60s and 70s are finding their true calling as social media creators, turning lived experience into engaging content and, in many cases, steady income. As reported by Mint, influencers in this age group have grown by nearly 20 to 30 percent in recent years, a shift driven not by hustle anxiety but by freedom, financial security and creative fulfilment.

No Longer a Young Person’s Game

These creators are retired professionals, former bureaucrats, bankers, doctors or artists who see content creation as an extension of their life journey. With pensions, investments or prior savings already in place, social media becomes a space for expression rather than survival. From grandmothers sharing shlokas to retired army officers performing martial arts, these greying creators are challenging the idea that relevance has an age limit. Here are some Indian over-50 influencers who are quietly, and confidently, playing social media.

Lalitha Narayanaswami, aka tales by.granny

Instagram: @tales.by.granny
Followers: 89K

Lalitha Narayanaswami, lovingly known as the internet’s favourite Paati, has built a warm digital home through her account tales.by.granny. Introducing herself simply as “Lalitha, your Paati”, she uses social media to share shlokas, moral tales, personal experiences and gentle reflections drawn from decades of living.

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A post shared by Lalitha Narayanaswami | Internet’s favourite Granny 👵🏻 (@tales.by.granny)

Her content feels intimate and reassuring, rooted in Indian tradition but delivered with an ease that resonates across generations. With 89,000 followers, Lalitha Narayanaswami’s presence proves that authenticity and emotional connection can travel far, even without flashy trends or viral hooks.

More than a creator, she functions as a digital grandmother for many, reminding audiences that wisdom, calm and storytelling still have a strong place online.

Gagan Walia, aka roadrider.68

Instagram: @roadrider.68
Followers: 3K+

Gagan Walia documents life on the road through his account roadrider.68. Living a camper life close to nature, he travels across India by road, focusing on historical landmarks and religious sites.

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A post shared by Gagan Walia (@roadrider.68)

His content captures slow travel and quiet exploration, a contrast to high-speed, itinerary-heavy travel reels. With just over 3,200 followers, Gagan’s page appeals to those drawn to meaningful journeys rather than destination checklists.

By choosing the open road later in life, he shows that adventure does not retire when careers end. For many viewers, his journey is as aspirational as it is grounding.

Yashpal Singh and Shanta Verma, aka theverma.family

Instagram: @theverma.family
Followers: 59.5K

Yashpal Singh and Shanta Verma, popularly known as Mr and Mrs Verma, are spreading couple goals in their seventies. With the bio “Playing cool after 70s”, the duo shares fashion-forward looks, trend-based videos and slices of family life that feel effortless and joyful.

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A post shared by @theverma.family

The majority of their content is managed by their family member and granddaughter through @why_joni from Chicago. The couple has built a loyal audience of nearly 60,000 followers. Often described as giving young fashion creators serious competition, they keep up with viral formats while staying completely true to themselves. Their popularity lies in how naturally they challenge age stereotypes, not by preaching, but by simply showing up with confidence and style. Their content is simple and straightforward, yet with deeper meaning: reels that convey sharing meals, walking together, and teasing each other, even at this age.

Shanthi Ramachandran aka shaanthram

Instagram: @shaanthram
Followers: 51.6K

A former banker who retired in 2015, Shanthi Ramachandran never planned on becoming a digital creator. Encouraged by her daughter, she started sharing recipes online, which soon turned her into the much-loved “Insta Aunty” for thousands.

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A post shared by Shanthi Ramachandran (@shaanthram)

Her account is centred around home-style cooking, especially easy, practical recipes shared under the hashtag #shanthiskitchen. With over 51,000 followers, Shanthi’s content is refreshingly honest. As she puts it, she posts what she cooks and does not cook just to post.

Her journey shows how retirement can be a beginning, not an end and how everyday skills can find new relevance online.

Lt Col Rajiv DS Chauhan (Retd)

Instagram: @lt_colonel_rds_chauhan
Followers: 129K

Born in 1964, Lt Col Rajiv DS Chauhan is a retired Indian Army officer with a background in mechanical engineering and combat vehicles. On Instagram, he has gained massive attention for his high-energy content featuring martial arts, MMA techniques and advanced trick shots.

From back fists and hooks to roundhouse kicks, Brazilian Capoeira twin kicks and double flying front kicks, his reels highlight exceptional fitness and discipline well past conventional expectations of age.

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A post shared by Lt Col Rajiv DS Chauhan, Retd (@lt_colonel_rds_chauhan)

With 129,000 followers, he has become a powerful example of physical capability in later years, inspiring audiences to rethink what strength looks like after 50.

Dr Anjali Kumar aka Maitri

YouTube: Maitri
Subscribers: 142K
Instagram: @maitriwoman
Followers:

A practising gynaecologist for over 30 years, Dr Anjali Kumar launched her YouTube channel Maitri in July 2020 during the pandemic. The channel focuses on women’s health, hygiene and medical awareness, areas often clouded by misinformation online.

Through clear, accessible videos on topics like PCOS, breast cancer, self-examinations, menstrual cups, contraceptive pills and ovulation kits, Dr Anjali brings medical credibility to social media. Her Instagram content under the hashtag #Maitricares further extends this work.

Now 55, she has reached over 1.4 lakh subscribers, with audiences from India as well as neighbouring countries. Her goal is simple but impactful: to explain complex health issues in language people can trust.

The Bigger Picture: The Older Generation’s Big Role in the Creator Economy

According to industry experts quoted by Mint, creators in the 40 to 60-plus age group have grown significantly in recent years. Influencers with around 500,000 followers can earn between Rs 30 to 35 lakh annually, comparable to late-stage corporate salaries. For most older creators, this income supplements pensions or investments rather than replacing them.

Actor Ashish Vidyarthi, who has reinvented himself online as a stand-up comic, travel and food vlogger, describes content creation at this age as freeing. Without long-term pressure, the work becomes an expression of lived experience rather than a risky career bet.

Dinesh Mohan, often called India’s “silver fox”, echoes this sentiment. A former Haryana government officer, he began modelling at 57 and later found brand collaborations on social media so lucrative that he never had to rely on his pension. For him and many others, the thrill of creating and connecting outweighs financial motivation.