Mumbai, August 24, 2025 – In an ironic twist that sounds straight out of a Bollywood comedy, one of India's most recognizable faces has been deemed "fake" by LinkedIn's algorithms. Shraddha Kapoor, the 38-year-old Bollywood sensation who recently conquered the box office with "Stree 2," found herself locked out of her own professional networking account just as she was preparing to unveil her thriving business empire to the corporate world.
The Digital Identity Crisis Stirring Bollywood
What happened? Kapoor’s verified, premium LinkedIn account was flagged as fraudulent by the platform’s security system, making it invisible to other users despite her genuine credentials.
When did this happen? The actress revealed the issue on Saturday, August 24, 2025, via an Instagram story, sparking widespread talk about celebrity verification on professional networks.
Where’s the problem? LinkedIn’s algorithm has essentially shadow-banned Kapoor’s account, creating a strange situation where one of India’s biggest stars can’t establish her professional presence on the world’s largest professional platform.
Who’s affected? Beyond Kapoor, this highlights bigger challenges faced by high-profile figures trying to build authentic professional identities online, especially when moving from entertainment into business.
Why does it matter? Kapoor’s LinkedIn troubles come at a critical time as she works to showcase her business skills behind Palmonas, a jewelry startup that recently secured major funding and appeared on the hit show "Shark Tank India."
How did she respond? Ironically using Instagram—the very platform she’s trying to move away from for business networking—Kapoor publicly appealed for help, a modern digital SOS.
The Viral Instagram Plea
In her story, Kapoor expressed frustration: “Dear LinkedIn @linkedin_in, I can’t use my own account because LinkedIn thinks it’s fake. Can someone please help me?”
She followed up, explaining: “Account is premium and verified, but no one else can see it. I want to share my entrepreneurial journey, but even getting an account has become a journey.”
Social media users caught the irony—a verified celebrity with millions of followers forced to beg on Instagram just to prove she’s real on LinkedIn.
The Business Empire Behind The Glamour
The Palmonas Success
What makes this LinkedIn lockout so frustrating is the timing. Kapoor isn’t just building a profile for show. Behind the scenes, she co-founded Palmonas, a jewelry startup launched in 2022 that’s quickly made a name for itself.
Palmonas gained credibility when it featured on "Shark Tank India Season 4," where her co-founders pitched successfully to top investors.
The Shark Tank Win
Though Kapoor didn’t appear on the show, her co-founders secured ₹1.26 crore from respected business leaders Namita Thapar and Ritesh Agarwal.
More impressively, reports say Palmonas raised ₹55 crore in its first institutional funding round, led by Vertex Ventures. This is serious business success, not just celebrity side hustle, and deserves a proper LinkedIn spotlight.
From Horror-Comedy Star to Business Leader
The 'Stree 2' Box Office Hit
Kapoor’s professional frustrations come right after her biggest film success. "Stree 2," released August 15, 2024, grossed ₹857.15 crore worldwide. The horror-comedy sequel, featuring stars like Rajkummar Rao and Abhishek Banerjee, solidified her as one of Bollywood’s top stars.
The franchise’s third film is already set for 2027, promising to keep Kapoor at the forefront of the genre.
The Professional Shift LinkedIn Missed
Beyond acting, Kapoor is serious about her business role. Her journey with Palmonas shows a genuine commitment to building something beyond films—a story perfectly suited for LinkedIn's professional audience.
Palmonas’ success on "Shark Tank India" wasn’t just for show; it’s a real company winning serious investments.
The LinkedIn Algorithm’s Blindspot
When Verification Backfires
Kapoor’s case exposes a flaw in automated verification systems that can’t tell real celebrities from fakes. Her account is premium and verified, yet invisible—a technical glitch or an overly cautious fraud filter trapping a genuine user.
This raises questions about how platforms handle high-profile users who don’t fit the usual corporate mold. When a Bollywood star wants to share business insights, current systems seem unready for the crossover.
Upcoming Projects Waiting for LinkedIn
Beyond business, Kapoor has a busy film slate. Her next confirmed project is "Naagin," produced by Nikhil Dwivedi, who said Kapoor was his first and only choice for the lead.
Filming is expected to start this year. She’s also signed three other deals, including a rumored romantic drama with Aditya Roy Kapur and a period musical directed by Laxman Uttekar.
The Modern Celebrity’s Digital Challenge
Platform Politics Today
Kapoor’s LinkedIn issues reflect a wider problem for stars trying to build professional identities across platforms. Instagram and Twitter work well for fan engagement, but LinkedIn’s corporate-focused system struggles with hybrid celebrity-entrepreneurs.
Her public Instagram plea shows how even verified stars sometimes must use social media pressure to fix basic platform issues—highlighting how tricky digital identity verification can be for public figures who don’t fit neat categories.
The Waiting Game: What’s Next?
As Kapoor waits for LinkedIn’s response, the case has sparked debate about celebrity verification and maintaining real professional identities online. Ironically, it has brought more attention to her business than any LinkedIn post might have.
Whether LinkedIn fixes the visibility problem remains unknown. But Kapoor’s journey—from Bollywood’s horror-comedy queen to owner of a ₹55-crore business empire—deserves proper recognition, fake account flags or not.
The irony? In trying to prove her business credibility online, Shraddha Kapoor has become the year’s most talked-about LinkedIn story, all while being locked out of LinkedIn itself.
