New Delhi, Aug. 4 -- After nine years of writing comedy scripts, shooting sketches, and chasing YouTube views, Om Suri hit pause. His channel 'Oye Omi' had nearly 73,000 subscribers, but not enough to pay his bills. Two months ago, he quit full-time content creation and is scouting for a regular job.

Suri is not alone. As India's 8-million-strong creator economy gets overcrowded and unpredictable, many influencers, especially those with smaller followings, are quietly walking away from the spotlight. Shrinking advertisement revenue, inconsistent brand deals, and rising financial strain are driving creators back to the stability of traditional employment.

Influencers, those who have built a dedicated following on digital platforms, are k...