₹1 Lakh Deal Made Him Quit. Now He Earns ₹2.5 Lakh a Month
A Mumbai creator quit his corporate job only after Instagram paid three to four times his salary. Here is what his numbers, and India's creator rate cards, say about when quitting makes sense.
One brand paid Shubh Sarang Rs 1 lakh for his content. That single payment, India Today reports, gave the Mumbai creator the confidence to leave his corporate job and make Instagram videos full-time.
He now says he earns up to Rs 2.5 lakh a month. But he did not quit on the first big cheque, and he warns others not to either.
Quick answer
- Shubh Sarang quit only after his creator income was three to four times his corporate salary, not after one deal.
- Brands were paying him Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per video once he crossed two lakh followers.
- His monthly creator income settled between Rs 2.2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh.
- Most Indian creators are nowhere near this: BCG data says only 8-10 per cent monetise their content effectively.
The night shift behind the numbers
Before quitting, Sarang was doing two jobs. He worked in a corporate office from 9 am to 6 pm, went home for a short break, then went out to shoot content.
After that came hours of editing, often until 4 am. He was up again at 8 am for work, and recalls sometimes falling asleep at the office.
That is the part of a creator story that rarely goes viral. The income came first from a side hustle run on very little sleep, not from a clean leap.
How his audience turned into income
The growth was sudden. Sarang had around 10,000 followers when his content began attracting attention, India Today says.
Within a month or two, his audience grew to one lakh. Another video took him to two lakh followers, and the brand offers got bigger.
Brands began offering him between Rs 1.3 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh for a single video. His monthly income from content creation eventually reached Rs 2.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Today he has over 233k followers, and the video telling his story has crossed 990k views.
How his fee compares with India's rate cards
Exchange4media reports industry rate cards for one branded collaboration. Sarang's per-video fee sits right where the mid-tier band would predict.
Source: India Today; Exchange4media rate cards
Per those rate cards, creators with 200,000 to 500,000 followers earn between ₹1.2 lakh and ₹2 lakh per branded post. Nano and emerging creators under 200,000 followers often make just ₹20,000 to ₹60,000 per campaign.
Insiders told the publication these are peak prices, not predictable income. At the entry level, barter deals, where a brand sends free products instead of money, still dominate.
Why his story is the exception
The wider numbers are much tougher. A Times of India report, citing BCG, says only 8-10 per cent of Indian creators monetise their content effectively, and their average income is close to Rs 18,000 a month.
Competition is rising fast. A 2026 study by the Indian School of Business and Hashfame found India's creator base grew from 9.6 lakh in 2020 to 41.2 lakh in 2025, while campaigns did not keep pace.
TOI also spoke to people who tried creating and gave up. One spent Rs 1.8 lakh on a new phone hoping it would lift her content, and has not earned from it.
So Sarang's path is real, but it is the top slice of the market, not the typical outcome.
A simple rule before you quit
Sarang's own caution is the most useful part of his story. He worried about paying his EMIs without a salary, and he only resigned once creator earnings had consistently outpaced his corporate pay.
If you are building a creator side hustle, his path suggests a few checks before you hand in your notice:
- Count months, not deals. One Rs 1 lakh payment is a signal, not a salary. Look for several months in a row where content beats your pay.
- Use a multiple, not parity. He waited until content earned three to four times his salary. Matching your salary leaves no cushion for a slow month.
- List fixed bills first. EMIs, rent and family costs do not wait for a brand to pay its invoice.
- Expect payment delays. TOI reports some creators wait so long for agency payments that they give up chasing them. Get fees and payment dates in writing.
- Build more than one income line. Since April 2026, Instagram creators with at least 1,000 followers can tag up to 30 products per Reel for affiliate commissions. It will not replace brand deals, but it smooths gaps.
Disclosure is part of the job
Paid posts carry rules. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission treats influencer marketing as paid endorsement, and Wikipedia notes that fans increased engagement after creators began disclosing sponsored content with #ad.
Clear disclosure protects your audience's trust, and trust is what brands are paying for.
Tax note: creator income is taxable like any other income. This is information only; check with a CA for your situation.
FAQs
How many followers did Shubh Sarang have when brands paid well? Brand offers of Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per video came after he reached two lakh followers, according to India Today. He now has over 233k.
Should I quit my job after my first big brand deal? Sarang himself advises against it. He resigned only when his creator income was three to four times his corporate salary and had stayed ahead consistently.
What do smaller creators earn per campaign in India? Rate cards reported by Exchange4media show ₹20,000 to ₹60,000 per campaign for creators under 200,000 followers, and many beginners are offered barter instead of cash.
Is ₹2.5 lakh a month normal for Instagram creators? No. BCG data cited by TOI puts the average for creators who monetise close to Rs 18,000 a month, and only 8-10 per cent monetise effectively.
Would you quit at two times your salary, or wait for more? Tell us your number in the comments.
Results vary; nothing here is a promise of income.
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