This year’s TIME list features people from many fields across the world who are shaping culture, leadership, and creativity. It includes names from entertainment and food, with India represented by figures from cinema and culinary arts.
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Ranbir Kapoor just walked into a very exclusive global club, and not through a film set or red carpet, but via one of the world’s most talked-about recognition lists. The Bollywood star has been named in TIME magazine’s annual 100 Most Influential People of 2026. The list tracks personalities who are shaping culture, politics, arts, ideas across the planet.
For India, the spotlight this year is small but sharp. Ranbir Kapoor stands as the only actor from the Indian film industry to feature in the 2026 edition.
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Alongside him, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna also brings Indian representation into the list.
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The announcement came on Wednesday when TIME released its latest global roster of influence-makers, describing them as individuals who are “changing culture in unprecedented ways.”
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana wrote Ranbir’s official TIME profile, and his note reads less like a formal introduction and more like a reflection from one artist about another.
In his write-up, Ayushmann drew a line between fame and legacy. He suggested that many actors chase greatness through visible markers like box office numbers and opening weekend hype but Ranbir Kapoor belongs to different category altogether, one that “becomes legacy through craft itself.”
He highlighted how cinema often celebrates loud success but Ranbir’s performances work in a quieter space. According to him, Ranbir doesn’t overstate emotions on screen. Instead, he internalises them, bringing a restrained and deeply human quality to his characters.
Ayushmann pointed out that this subtle approach has gradually reshaped how audiences understand emotion in Indian cinema.
He also touched upon larger cultural shift by saying Ranbir reflects an India that is learning to “listen to itself” and express authenticity without noise.
He even noted how Indian cinema through actors like Ranbir carries stories rooted in mythology and tradition, such as inspirations drawn from epics like the Ramayana to international audiences.
The TIME 100 list this year also shines a light on Indian culinary excellence through chef Vikas Khanna.
He has been featured among global visionaries in fashion, visual arts, literary work, and culinary innovation.
Khanna’s recognition was accompanied by a profile written by Eric Ripert, the James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of the world-famous restaurant Le Bernardin. Ripert’s tribute focuses not only on Khanna’s cooking skills but also on his character beyond kitchen.
He described Khanna as someone whose generosity extends far beyond food. According to Ripert, Khanna uses cuisine as a universal language.
This year’s TIME 100 list stretches far beyond entertainment and culinary arts. It includes wide range of global leaders and influential figures shaping today’s world.
Among the political and leadership names featured are US President Donald Trump, Pope Leo XIV, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Also included is Reid Wiseman, commander of the 2026 Artemis II mission.
TIME describes all honourees as individuals who are actively reshaping culture, systems, and global conversations in significant ways.
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