Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :
Suhail Rasool
From Facebook posts to life-saving campaigns, he built a community rooted in purpose
Bengaluru :
Do you remember when Instagram was just about pictures, with no reels, stories, or videos? Suhail Rasool vividly remembers it; it feels like yesterday. A Bengaluru-based content creator, Suhail began his digital journey on Facebook in 2009, long before the term ‘influencer’ became common, and carried that momentum onto Instagram, where he carved out his own space.
Currently known online as @suhailrasool on Instagram, he has grown into one of Bengaluru’s most recognised digital storytellers. What sets him apart is not just the numbers but the heart behind his work. His content brims with energy, relatability and an unmistakable sincerity. From lifestyle and travel to personal vlogs, Suhail weaves stories that feel lived in and real. He has consistently mobilised his audience to support medical treatments, social causes, and relief efforts, proving that influence can spark genuine change when guided by empathy.
Stormy start
“I had a Facebook page in 2009-10. Most of the posts on that page reached nearly 60,000 likes,” recalls Suhail. He joined Instagram on March 10, 2014, when the platform was still basic. “There were no Reels, no IGTV, no collaborations, no links, just photos,” he explains the struggle of the lack of features. Later, Instagram added 10-second videos.
“You had to fit everything into those 10 seconds, and there was no sharing option. People had to follow you to watch.” “In 2016, Snapchat introduced Stories, and Instagram quickly adopted the feature. That’s when I really started posting daily Stories, 10 to 15 a day,” he says. “I’ve kept it up ever since. Back then, I was a lot more energetic too,” he laughed and highlighted how consistency is key on social media.
Using platform for a purpose
Suhail Rasool began raising funds in 2020, focusing on life-saving procedures such as heart, kidney, liver, and lung transplants. Over the years, these efforts grew into a community movement that helped save countless lives. Looking back, he sums it up simply: “We saved a lot of lives.” During the peak of the COVID crisis, he and his team mobilised resources at an extraordinary scale.
They distributed nearly 7,500 ration kits, each worth about Rs 1,200, raising close to Rs 75 lakh in just three days. “Every Bangalorean who was in trouble with COVID made sure they reached us,” he recalls. Beyond food relief, the team organised ventilator beds, ICU beds, and other essential medical support for those in urgent need. Suhail also mentioned how a friend’s trust, later taken forward in his memory, enabled them to expand their efforts.
Among the initiatives was donating ambulances, made free of cost at a time when prices had soared and access was limited. “Even now, that ambulance has been kept free of service in our area,” he says, a lasting reminder of their work during the pandemic.
A creator who speaks
He admits inspiring many followers through his platform to speak out on sensitive issues, particularly around communal harmony. He emphasises that political agendas have created unnecessary divides and distracted the youth from focusing on progress. His message remains consistent and simple: “We are all one. It is one country, and we need to stand together for its development.”
“I’m very active on my Stories, I have the highest reach there, and even on IGTV. I still call it IGTV,” says Suhail with a smile. His Instagram Stories draw some of the largest audiences in Karnataka and even across South India. On average, each story is watched by nearly 1,80,000 people, and even his daily updates often cross the one lakh mark. Unlike many creators, he focuses less on Reels or posts and instead relies on the consistency of his Stories, which his followers watch religiously. This is how he has managed to build a strong base of loyal followers.
Idea over a chai
“Mehfil is one big concept in my life,” said Suhail. For years, he and his friends, Fazal and Fanoos, created lighthearted content, but as they grew older, they wanted something more sustainable. At the time, few brands believed in Instagram marketing, yet Suhail kept supporting small businesses and young influencers. By 2021, his Stories reached nearly 1,50,000 viewers, and creators constantly sought his support. That inspired him to bring everyone under one roof.
Along with his friends, he registered a company and built a platform for bakers, designers, makeup artists, and entrepreneurs to showcase their work. “As we are gathering everyone, I called it Mehfil,” he says with pride. The first gathering took off like a rocket, with a sea of people storming in and all the businesses booming. Then they held three more Mehfils, and the next one is at the end of this year. By forging his own path, he has not only built his own success but also opened doors for countless aspiring creators online.
source: http://www.newstrailindia.com / News Trail / Home / by Bhavana M / September 07th, 2025
