The most viewed Instagram reel in 24 hours belongs to Indian actor and celebrity Kareena Kapoor Khan. Her reel celebrating International Yoga Day 2022 garnered over 9 million views within the first 24 hours of being posted.
Why Instagram Reels Have Become So Popular
Instagram Reels were launched in 2020 as a way for users to create and share short, entertaining videos on the platform. They have quickly become one of the app’s most popular features for both individuals and brands looking to reach large audiences and go viral.
There are several reasons why Reels have taken off:
- They’re fun and easy to make. Anyone can create professional-looking Reels using nothing but their mobile phones.
- Instagram actively promotes viral Reels in people’s feeds through its recommendation algorithm. This gives creators a chance at huge organic reach.
- Reels have their own dedicated space within Instagram Explore, allowing them to gain incremental views.
- Brands love Reels as a way to creatively engage their audience. Compelling branded content can gain impressive traction.
- The short format fits modern Internet users’ craving for bite-sized, entertaining video content.
With Reels being so integral to Instagram’s offering, top creators and brands put great efforts into optimizing their Reels for maximum visibility. Competition for views and engagement is fierce.
Why Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Yoga Day Reel Went Viral
On June 21, 2022, International Yoga Day, Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan posted a Reel doing different yoga poses and stretches. In just the first 24 hours, it accumulated over 9 million views – the most yet for an Instagram Reel in India in 24 hours.
There are several factors why Kareena’s Reel achieved such incredible popularity:
- Star power – With over 11 million Instagram followers, Kareena is one of Bollywood’s biggest celebs. Her posts garner high engagement by default.
- Good timing – Yoga Day provided the perfect topical opportunity to post fitness-related content.
- Aspirational and relatable – Fans love watching one of the top actresses do yoga. It’s inspirational yet relatable.
- Creative editing – Quick cuts between poses and added text gave the Reel an eye-catching look.
- Influencer marketing – Kareena tagged her yoga instructor in the Reel, exposing it to new audiences.
Besides these factors, the innate virality of the Instagram algorithm no doubt gave the Reel a boost too. Kareena frequently trends for her posts, but this one clearly hit the right notes with both her fans and the app’s recommendation engine.
Tips for Creating Viral Reels
While going viral is never guaranteed, creators can utilize some proven strategies to boost their chances:
- Use eye-catching visuals – Bold colors, interesting effects, cute animals always help grab attention.
- Leverage trends and hashtags – Timely topics and viral hashtag challenges can get your Reel seen by those interested in them.
- Optimize captions – Include engaging captions and strategic tags to help with discovery.
- Post at optimal times – Afternoons and evenings tend to see highest Instagram usage.
- Remix popular audio – Leverage trending sounds that others can remix too.
- Collaborate with influencers – Getting reposted by those with big followings leads to exponential growth.
- Promote outside Instagram – Share Reel links on other platforms like Twitter to maximize reach.
- Analyze performance – Look at insights to identify formats and topics resonating with your audience.
While good content remains key, having a strong understanding of how Instagram’s systems work is hugely helpful. With the right data-driven strategy, any creator can dramatically improve their chances of going viral.
Notable Record-Breaking Reels
A number of Reels over time have managed to break records and set new viewing milestones on the platform:
- Most global views in 24 hours – Egg Gang’s “Chicken Wing Beat” dance (32.4 million)
- Most Indian views in 24 hours – Kareena Kapoor’s Yoga Day Reel (9+ million)
- First Indian Reel to cross 1 billion views – Yashraj Mukhate’s “Rasode Mein Kaun Tha” (1.5+ billion)
- Most liked Reel globally – Bella Poarch’s head bobbing video (50.4 million)
Various factors contribute to these historic performances. Trending sounds, viral dance challenges, catchy music, and celebrity influencer power all help Reels spread further on the platform. Brands too have gotten in on the act, with Samsung India’s #MonsterReloaded campaign generating 800 million+ views.
As competition rises, we will keep seeing records being broken by creativity and strategic mastery of Instagram’s ever-changing systems.
Impact of Viral Reels on Creators
For individual creators and influencers, a viral Reel can have career-defining results. Some of the positive impacts include:
- Rapid follower growth – A viral Reel exposes the creator to vast new audiences organically.
- Increased engagement – Existing followers are more likely to like and comment on posts after a viral moment.
- Partnership opportunities – Brands seek out hot creators for lucrative sponsorship deals.
- Media coverage – Mainstream news outlets report on trending online personalities.
- Momentum effect – Success breeds more success as the algorithm starts recommending you more.
However, sudden exponential growth can also come with some potential downsides:
- Pressure to keep creating viral content
- Toxic or inappropriate comments from new followers
- Dealing with accusations of “selling out” if taking on brand deals
- Changes to community dynamics as the creator base rapidly evolves
Maintaining authenticity and setting boundaries becomes crucial. But overall, a viral Reel serves as social proof and provides creators leverage to build their brand.
Key Takeaways
- Kareena Kapoor Khan holds the record for most Indian views on an Instagram Reel in 24 hours at over 9 million.
- Creative content, influencer marketing, and trend optimization help Reels go viral.
- A viral Reel can transform careers but needs to be navigated carefully.
- Views records are continually being broken as Reels innovation and competition heats up.