7+ Famous Global Personalities Who Have Indian Origin

The global stage has been a platform for many Indian-origin individuals who have shined it with their achievements and honours. As per the World Migration Report of 2022, India has the largest immigrant population of around 18 million people who are living abroad. From various fields like politics to entertainment, these great global personalities who have Indian origins have incredibly become influential in their respective areas. This blog explores the most famous global personalities who have Indian origins across different industries and covers their achievement and contributions in the global arena.

Who are the famous global personalities Who have Indian Origins?

From Kamala Harris, the first woman of Indian origins to become the Vice President of the United States, to Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft one of the most valuable companies in the world with a market capitalisation of over $2.5 trillion, these individuals continue to break boundaries.

Their success is not confined to a single sector. In entertainment, actors like Alia Bhatt and Dev Patel have garnered millions of fans internationally, while on the business front, Ajay Banga, the President of the World Bank, oversees an organisation that funds projects worth $35 billion annually. Let us discuss them more in detail – 

In Politics

In politics alone, there are more than 30 famous Indian-origin leaders holding positions of power worldwide.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is the former Vice President of the United States in American politics. As the first female Vice President of South Asian and African American origin, Harris has been an influential personality in U.S. policies on racial equality, criminal justice reform and public health. Her contributions and achievements reflect her Indian heritage and important role in global politics.

Name	Position	Country	Contributions
Kamala Harris	Vice President	USA	Focus on racial equality and public health
Birthplace	Oakland, California		First South Asian & African American VP

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak is the ex-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who has had an early rise in British politics. Of Indian origin, Sunak’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic has been recognised and characterised by innovative economic strategies. His background at Oxford and Stanford University has also influenced his approach to managing the UK’s economy and navigating global challenges.

Name	Position	Country	Contributions
Rishi Sunak	Prime Minister	UK	Led the UK’s economic response during the COVID-19
Education	Oxford University, Stanford University		Managed the country’s financial stability

Leo Varadkar

Leo Varadkar is of Indian and Irish origin and has made history as the youngest and first openly gay Prime Minister of Ireland. Varadkar was born to an Indian father and has been working on progressive reforms, especially in health and welfare. His leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was globally recognised, placing him at the forefront of global political conversations.

Name	Position	Country	Contributions
Leo Varadkar	Former Prime Minister	Ireland	Reformed healthcare and welfare systems
Birthplace	Dublin, Ireland		First openly gay Irish PM

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In Business and Leadership

In the field of business and leadership, there are famous personalities who have been listed in the top 100 in the Times leadership Rankings. Some of them are – 

Ajay Banga

Ajay Banga was born in Pune, India. He is the President of the World Bank. Under his leadership the global financial structure has been transformed, giving more focus on economic development and inclusion. Banga’s expertise and innovative approach to digital transformation, sustainable development and advanced financial inclusion made him a global leader in the business field.

Name	Position	Country	Contributions
Ajay Banga	President of World Bank	USA	Transforming global financial structures
Birthplace	Pune, India		Focus on developing economies and finance

Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is an Indian-American businesswoman. She has served in the position of CEO of PepsiCo for over 12 years and had one of the longest tenures in Fortune 500 history. Under her leadership, PepsiCo saw tremendous growth and a stronger focus on sustainability. She has also been ranked as the top 100 most powerful women in the world consistently.

Name	Position	Country	Contributions
Indra Nooyi	Former CEO	USA	Led PepsiCo through a period of significant growth
Education	Yale School of Management		Focused on health and environmental impact

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In Science and Technology

Most of the famous global personalities who have Indian origins have contributed to the field of science and technology, be it renewable energy, astrophysics, astronauts to mathematicians, they have reached pinnacles and pushed the boundaries of knowledge. From Sunita Williams, and Ramanujan to Jigar Shah and Priyamvada Natarajan, these personalities have been innovators and inspirations too.

Jigar Shah

Jigar Shah was born in India and raised in the United States. He became a pioneer in clean energy technology. He is currently serving as the Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, overseeing billions in investments toward sustainable energy projects. 

Name	Position	Country	Contributions
Jigar Shah	Director, Loan Programs Office	USA	Leading clean energy initiatives globally
Achievements	Renewable energy investments		Overseeing large-scale sustainability projects

Priyamvada Natarajan

Priyamvada Natarajan is a world-renowned astrophysicist and a professor at Yale University. Her groundbreaking work in mapping dark matter and dark energy has transformed the field of astronomy and physics. Born in Tamil Nadu, India, she has received global recognition for her research and contributions to science. She was also present amongst one of the 100 most influential people of 2024 by Time magazine.

Name	Field	Country	Contributions
Priyamvada Natarajan	Astrophysicist	USA	Mapping dark matter and dark energy
Position	Professor, Yale University		Pioneering research in cosmology

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In Entertainment Field

The Indian-origin actors, writers and producers have made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry. From Bollywood to Hollywood, the work has spanned across different genres, mediums and cultures, making them influential personalities not in just creative talents but also for their representation and diversity. Some of these personalities are – 

Dev Patel

Dev Patel, a British actor of Indian descent, gained international fame with “Slumdog Millionaire.” His diverse roles and recent directorial debut with “Monkey Man” have established him as a prominent figure in global cinema. Patel’s achievements reflect the intersection of British and Indian cultural influence.

Name	Field	Country	Contributions
Dev Patel	Actor, Director	UK	Fame from “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Monkey Man”
Work	“Slumdog Millionaire”		Directorial debut with “Monkey Man”

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is a popular Indian-American actress, writer, and producer. She is famous in the entertainment industry for her groundbreaking TV shows like “The Office” and “The Mindy Project.” Her comedic talent and influence have made her a household name in the U.S., and she continues to advocate for representation in Hollywood.

Name	Field	Country	Contributions
Mindy Kaling	Actress, Writer	USA	Created and starred in “The Mindy Project”
Achievements	Comedy and writing		Advocated for diversity in Hollywood

Hasan Minhaj

Hasan Minha is a stand-up comedian and political commentator, who gained international recognition with his Netflix show, “Patriot Act.” Minhaj was born to Indian parents and uses his platform to discuss contemporary political issues with a humorous twist, making complex topics more accessible to a global audience.

Name	Field	Country	Contributions
Hasan Minhaj	Comedian, Political Commentator	USA	Host of “Patriot Act” on Netflix
Achievements	Comedy and political satire		Raised awareness of global political issues

These personalities not only have inspired but also have set a true definition of the world as a global village. By looking at these Indian-origin personalities making their mark in the fields of their interest, we can also measure how the Indian diaspora continues to bring change and impact on the global level with their leadership, achievements and innovations.

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