Entertainment Unlimited: The Box-Office and Screen Stars of 2025

Despite 2025 being a relatively quiet year for Hindi cinema across theatres and OTT platforms, a handful of actors, filmmakers, and creators stood out by delivering performances and projects that captured audience attention and box-office success.

Leading the pack was Akshaye Khanna, who emerged as one of the year’s most talked-about performers. His powerful portrayals of antagonistic roles in Dhurandhar and Chhaava earned widespread acclaim, marking a strong second phase in his career. Alongside him, Vicky Kaushal proved his box-office strength with Chhaava, which became the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.

Director Aditya Dhar made a thunderous comeback with Dhurandhar, a gritty, violent spy-gangster drama that took audiences by storm. The film’s success firmly established Dhar as one of the most sought-after filmmakers in the industry.

2025 also saw the rise of fresh talent. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda revived the musical romance genre with Saiyaara, winning over Gen Z and millennial audiences alike. Their debut performances positioned them as promising newcomers rather than fleeting one-hit wonders.

Another notable name was Aryan Khan, who made a confident behind-the-scenes debut with Netflix’s Ba**ds of Bollywood. The self-aware, satirical web series showcased his filmmaking sensibilities and marked a strong turnaround in his career.

In cinema rooted in realism, Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound earned international recognition, becoming India’s entry for the Oscars’ Best International Feature shortlist. Ishaan Khatter’s performance stood out for its emotional depth and authenticity.

Surprising the industry, animated mythological film Mahavatar Narsimha emerged as an unexpected box-office success, proving that Indian animation and mythology can find mass appeal when presented on a grand cinematic scale.

Among OTT performances, Monika Panwar delivered one of the year’s most powerful acts in Khauf, earning praise for her versatility and emotional intensity. Meanwhile, Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 continued the franchise’s success, becoming one of the year’s highest-grossing films.

New-generation actor Zahan Kapoor also made his mark with the prison drama Black Warrant, gaining attention for his restrained yet impactful performance.

Together, these filmmakers, actors, and storytellers ensured that even in a subdued year, Indian entertainment found moments of brilliance, originality, and box-office success.