Renegades | Dhar Mann Breaks Down His Storytelling Process
The mission-driven creator reflects on changing lives with his fables
Welcome to Renegades, Gold House’s editorial series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way. This week’s Renegade is creator Dhar Mann!
With 136 million followers and over 65 billion views across social media, Dhar has revolutionized digital storytelling with his unique perspective and mission towards proactive change. Most recently, he was recognized on the Forbes Top Creators list, alongside Mr. Beast and Charli D’Amelio.
We ask all our Renegades: what did you want to be when you were growing up, and how does that compare to where you are now?
Growing up, I always had an entrepreneurial mindset. I was fascinated by business and loved the idea of creating something from nothing. I didn’t necessarily think I’d be in the content creation space, but I always knew I wanted to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Today, I’m blessed to do that through storytelling, helping to inspire and uplift millions around the world. So while the how changed, the why—making a difference—has always stayed the same.
You made the Forbes Top 50 Creators list in 2024; With over 135 million followers across channels, a growing studio, and multiple successful content series, making this list was certainly no easy feat: what did that recognition meant to you?
Thank you! It’s truly humbling to be recognized alongside so many incredible creators who are shaping the industry. For me, this recognition is a reflection of the amazing community that supports us and the hardworking team at Dhar Mann Studios who brings our stories to life. More than anything, it’s a reminder that our mission—to spread positivity and teach life lessons—resonates with people, and that means everything to me.
The final Forbes list was incredibly diverse in terms of cultures, content, journeys and more, including names such as Mr. Beast, Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy, and Druski. You sat down with fellow Forbes Top Creator Drew Afualo to talk about breaking into the creator industry, growing your brand, and the lessons you’ve learned, content monetization, and more. What did you take away most from your conversation with Drew?
Drew is such an incredible creator, and our conversation really reinforced how important it is to stay true to your voice. In an industry that’s always evolving, authenticity is the one thing that never goes out of style. We talked a lot about the power of representation and using our platforms to uplift others, and that’s something I think about every day.
You’ve built businesses in a few different industries over the years. What about the digital content creation space first caught your eye as a business venture? How has this business differed from your previous ventures?
What caught my eye about digital content creation was the ability to reach and impact people instantly on a global scale. In my past ventures, whether it was real estate or cosmetics, growth took time. But with content, you can upload a video and immediately see how it touches lives. It’s also a business built on storytelling, and I’ve always believed that stories have the power to inspire change. Unlike my previous businesses, this one isn’t just about a product—it’s about emotions, lessons, and community.
Your content journey began in front of the camera, but you are now also behind the scenes of your own studio, developing and producing a host of different series that each draw millions of views per episode weekly. What have been some of the biggest challenges in making that transition? Do you find you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind the camera?
One of the biggest challenges in transitioning to a full-scale studio was building a team that could bring my vision to life while still maintaining the authenticity that originally resonated with our audience. I love being in front of the camera because it allows me to engage with viewers on a personal level, but I also have a deep passion for the behind-the-scenes process—developing new ideas, writing, and producing content that reaches beyond what I could accomplish alone. Having a diverse, global team has been essential in sharing unique voices and perspectives that resonate with our 125 million+ followers. So for me, it’s not about choosing between being in front of or behind the camera—it’s about finding the right balance to create the most impact and reach the most people.
Dhar Mann Studios creates series that specifically teach moral lessons to an incredibly engaged audience. How did you decide to focus on this as a topic? Did you expect audiences to find these parables, or after-school specials, so engaging or was it more of a surprise to see how rapidly the audience became enraptured by the content?
It really started with a simple idea: storytelling with purpose. I noticed there was a lot of content online, but not enough that left people feeling inspired or motivated to be better. I wanted to create stories that not only entertained but also educated. Honestly, I never expected it to take off as fast as it did! I went into this thinking even if just one person saw my videos and I can make a positive difference in that one person’s life, it was worth doing. Seeing how deeply people connected with the messages on a global scale, how they shared their own stories, and how it started real conversations—it was a beautiful surprise, and it only makes me want to do more.
In an increasingly saturated content space where the competition for audiences is heating up, how do you and your studio approach continuing to keep your viewers coming back each week? Does your content creation process follow a typical studio approach or are there unique strategies you use to develop, produce, and distribute the series?
Consistency and innovation are key. We stay ahead by listening to our audience— understanding what resonates with them and evolving based on their feedback. While we do operate like a traditional studio in some ways, we also embrace the flexibility of digital content. We test different storylines, formats, and platforms, always looking for new ways to engage. And at the core of it, we never lose sight of our mission—to create content that makes a real impact.
As a Bay Area native born to South Asian immigrants, you’ve talked a bit about what it was like growing up feeling like an outsider in your own community. How have your heritage and background, if at all, influenced the trajectory of your career today? Were there any mentors or leaders that you looked up to along the way?
Growing up, I often felt like I didn’t fit in, but that experience shaped my resilience and creativity. It made me realize the importance of representation—of seeing people who look like you doing big things. My parents were entrepreneurs, so they instilled in me a strong work ethic and the belief that anything is possible with determination. As for mentors, I’ve always looked up to visionaries like Steve Jobs and Walt Disney—people who broke barriers and changed the way we see the world.
As you celebrate your past success and look towards the future, what excites you most? Any upcoming projects we should be keeping an eye out for?
I’m incredibly excited about expanding our studio and bringing even more impactful stories to life. We currently operate DMS out of our 125,000 square foot, three-stage production facility in Burbank. We have new series in the works, bigger productions, and even more ways for our audience to engage. We’re also looking at different platforms and formats to make our content even more accessible - it was announced recently that we’re launching a FAST channel with Samsung TV Plus, which is a big step in expanding our reach beyond social and into living rooms. The goal is to continue growing while staying true to what got us here—creating stories that change lives. Stay tuned, because we’re just getting started!