YouTube FanFest 2025 India: Varun Dhawan, Sonu Nigam & Top Creators Light Up Mumbai

When YouTube FanFest 2025 returned to Mumbai’s NSCI Dome, Worli, it wasn’t just another event—it was a full-blown cultural celebration. From comedy and dance to gaming and Bollywood surprises, the night truly proved the slogan: “The Stage Is Yours.”

Why FanFest 2025 Was Special

This wasn’t just about creators performing—it was about India’s digital culture coming alive. Since its first edition in 2014, FanFest has grown from a fun meet-up to a creator-powered cultural movement. With over 20 top creators and rising stars, plus surprise Bollywood guests, this year’s edition showed how much the creator economy has reshaped entertainment in India.

The Star Power: From Comedy to Gaming

• Kusha Kapila opened the night with her iconic humor in a fun “What’s in My Bag” creator twist.

• Thugesh (Mahesh Keshwala), along with Nirmal Pillai and Abishek Kumar, brought his “Breaking Views” format live on stage. To everyone’s shock (and delight), Farah Khan joined in, proving she’s as Gen Z as the rest.

• Shakti Mohan (Nritya Shakti) delivered a power-packed dance performance, while Lisa Mishra & Sarah Sarosh gave a soulful musical act.

• Gaming legends Scout (Tanmay Singh) and Payal Gaming (Payal Dhare) represented India’s booming e-sports culture, with Payal entering Sharkshe S’s SlamMarine game live on stage!

Fresh voices like RJ Karishma, GamerFleet (Anshu Bisht), and Aaditya Kulshreshth (Kullu) added a new spark. RJ Karishma’s beloved Mummy Ji act had the audience rolling in laughter with her “beta-style” observations.

Bollywood Meets Creator Culture

The night’s biggest surprise? Varun Dhawan stormed the stage performing “Bijuria” from his upcoming film Sunny Sanskari ki Tulsi Kumari. Then came the goosebump moment—Sonu Nigam joined him to sing the original and recreated version live. The dome erupted, proving why Bollywood + YouTube is a deadly combo.

Adding to the magic, Dance with Alisha performed the viral hook-step with Varun, sealing one of the most shared moments of the night.

Musical Highs & Grand Finale

• Sanju Rathod debuted his new track Sundari exclusively for the FanFest crowd.

• Divine closed the show with a fiery Gully Gang performance and teased his upcoming album Walking on Water. Mumbai became Gully Boy land once again.
  

The Creator Economy in Action

FanFest wasn’t just entertainment—it was a showcase of India’s creator economy boom:

• 2.5 million active creators across India.

• 460 million YouTube users in the country.

• Careers being built not only with brand deals but also fan funding, virtual gifting, and OTT/Bollywood crossovers.
  

The message was clear: being a creator in India today is a full-time career with endless possibilities.

FAQs – Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab!

Q1. What is YouTube FanFest and why is it important? It’s YouTube’s biggest annual creator event in India where top YouTubers, musicians, and sometimes Bollywood stars perform live. It shows how creators are shaping India’s cultural and entertainment scene.

Q2. Who were the surprise guests at FanFest 2025? Varun Dhawan and Sonu Nigam stole the show with their Bijuria performance, while Farah Khan surprised everyone in Thugesh’s live comedy act.

Q3. Was YouTube FanFest 2025 free to attend? Yes, it was free! But seats were limited and filled quickly. For those who couldn’t attend, the entire event was livestreamed on YouTube.

Q4. Which creators represented Indian gaming at the event? Scout (Tanmay Singh), Payal Gaming (Payal Dhare), GamerFleet (Anshu Bisht), and Sharkshe S all brought gaming culture front and center.

Q5. How does FanFest support India’s creator economy? It gives recognition, networking opportunities, and brand visibility to creators while showing fans that authenticity and passion can become a real career.