TIME100 2026: Ranbir Kapoor, Vikas Khanna among 3 Indians named in World’s 100 Most Influential People — The third name is a global tech giant you didn’t see coming

TIME100 2026 features three Indians: There is something deeply telling about the way influence works in 2026. It is no longer loud, nor is it confined to political podiums or billion-dollar boardrooms. It moves through code, cinema, and even something as intimate as a plate of food. This year’s TIME100 list does not just celebrate power; it celebrates presence — the kind that shapes how we think, feel, and live. And standing firmly on that global stage are three Indians who could not be more different from one another, yet are united by the quiet force of their impact. From Silicon Valley to Bollywood and the world’s most refined kitchens, Sundar Pichai, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vikas Khanna have found themselves on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2026 — not by chance, but by consistently shaping conversations that matter.

What the TIME100 Really Represents

Every year, TIME curates a list that attempts to capture the pulse of global influence. It spans politics, technology, entertainment, and culture — a reminder that power today wears many faces. The 2026 edition is no different, featuring names like Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Mark Carney, alongside cultural and technological forces such as Neal Mohan.

But what stands out is how seamlessly Indian voices are now woven into this global narrative — not as outliers, but as central figures.

3. Sundar Pichai: The Man Bringing AI to the Masses

If artificial intelligence is the defining conversation of our time, then Sundar Pichai is one of its most important architects. As the CEO of Google since 2015, he has quietly overseen one of the most significant technological shifts of the decade — integrating AI into products used by billions.

What makes Pichai’s influence particularly compelling is not just innovation, but accessibility. Under his leadership, tools like Search, Android, and Chrome have evolved into AI-powered ecosystems. Even as competition intensifies, Google’s push into AI — including its Gemini developments — reflects a strategy that balances ambition with scale.

Andrew Ng, who wrote Pichai’s TIME profile, captured this perfectly: his influence lies not just in what Google builds, but in how widely it reaches.

Here’s why Pichai’s leadership matters:

In an industry often driven by spectacle, Ranbir Kapoor has built a career on restraint. His inclusion in the TIME100 list feels less like a surprise and more like overdue recognition of a craft that has consistently refused to shout. Kapoor’s performances are defined by an internal rhythm — nuanced, unhurried, and deeply human. At a time when global audiences are becoming more receptive to layered storytelling, his work has quietly travelled beyond borders, carrying with it a distinctly Indian emotional sensibility.

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who penned his TIME profile, described him as someone who “internalises” in a world that often over-performs. It is perhaps this very quality that makes Kapoor influential — he reflects an India that is evolving, listening, and learning to embrace subtlety.

For Vikas Khanna, influence extends far beyond the kitchen. Yes, he is a Michelin-star chef, but reducing his impact to culinary excellence would miss the point entirely. Khanna has turned food into a language — one that speaks of heritage, memory, and empathy.

His restaurant Bungalow is not just a dining space; it is an experience rooted in storytelling. Every dish carries a piece of India, thoughtfully translated for a global audience. Yet, what truly sets him apart is his humanitarian work — from feeding communities to championing dignity through food.

Chef Eric Ripert, who wrote his TIME profile, described him as a man of “extraordinary heart”, someone who connects across cultures with authenticity.

What makes Khanna’s influence unique:

The 2026 TIME100 list also reflects a broader Asian presence, featuring leaders like Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first woman prime minister, and Balendra Shah, one of the youngest leaders to rise through a wave of Gen Z-led change. It is a reminder that influence is shifting — geographically, culturally, and generationally.

What ties Sundar Pichai, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vikas Khanna together is not just their Indian identity, but their ability to shape how the world thinks, feels, and connects. One builds the future through technology, another reshapes storytelling through performance, and the third brings cultures together through food. In a year where influence feels more fluid than ever, their presence on the TIME100 list is not just a personal milestone — it is a reflection of India’s growing voice in defining the global narrative. And if there is one takeaway from this year’s list, it is this: influence no longer demands attention. Sometimes, it simply earns it.