Binge Rewind Behind the Lens

#BingeRewind: Behind the lens crew without whom these titles wouldn't be exactly the same and neither the year!le

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Behind the lens crew

From Mukesh Chhabra, Sheetal Iqbal Sharma, Shashwat Sachdev owning the year, to Manish Malhotra stepping confidently into his producer hat, here are the behind-the-scenes voices who still managed to steal the spotlight!

It’s often said that it takes a village to bring a film alive and that holds true from the script stage to the final cut. Creating a vision on screen requires an entire crew working in sync, each person contributing their expertise to make the final product resonate. While it’s impossible to give credit to everyone involved, here is a list of individuals who truly owned the year with their brilliant behind-the-scenes work. Some of these names contributed to multiple projects throughout the year, consistently proving their craft, while others worked on a single project yet demonstrated why they are leaders in their field. From casting directors and producers to costume and production designers, editors, cinematographers, screenwriters, and music composers, these are the people whose work stood out and elevated the projects they were part of.

Also Read: #BingeRewind: Directors whose vision we needed to see in 2025!

Casting Director- 

Mukesh Chhabra- Dhurandhar, Jolly LLB 3 and Dhadak 2

An actor delivering his best performance is one thing, but recognising which actor is perfectly suited for a role is a talent very few possess and Mukesh Chhabra is a master of that craft. The proof lies in the ensemble cast of Dhurandhar, where every character feels so organically placed that you can’t imagine anyone else playing them. Even the inspired casting choices of actors like Danish Pandor and Gaurav Gera stand out, showing how Chhabra recognises potential in unexpected places. And while he assembles a powerful cast for a gritty, layered world like Dhurandhar, he also brings together a fresh pairing like Sidhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri for an emotionally delicate film like Dhadak 2, showing his instinct for chemistry, tone, and narrative sensitivity.

Producer- 

Manish Malhotra- Gustaakh Ishq, Saali Mohabbat

Like any creative field, filmmaking needs financial backing and someone who genuinely believes in the vision. That’s where producers step in, their faith and investment are what allow a story to come alive on screen. This year, designer-turned-producer Manish Malhotra brought a touch of his well-known creative magic to the projects he backed. Just as he crafts costumes with care and imagination, he has extended that sensibility to the stories he chooses to support. Gustaakh Ishq unfolds like a love letter to poetry, while Saali Mohabbat embraces the crime-thriller genre to offer sharp commentary through a gripping whodunnit. 

Music Composer - 

Shashwat Sachdev - The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Dhurandhar 

This year truly belonged to Shashwat Sachdev, whose music became the soundtrack everyone was hooked on. Whether it was Ghafoor or the Dhurandhar title track, the entire nation found itself tapping feet and banging heads to his sound. He has an instinctive understanding of what today’s generation wants to hear, effortlessly blending old-school elements like a once-famous qawwali with contemporary rap-driven beats. The result is music that not only elevates scenes on screen but also stands strong on its own as absolute bangers.

Production Designer - 

Saini S Johray - Dhurandhar, The Family Man

If there is one thing everyone can unanimously agree on about Dhurandhar, it is how astonishingly real the world looks. And for good reason, the film’s Pakistan setting was recreated entirely in Thailand, designed to be an almost perfect replica of Lyari. The credit goes to the production design team led by Saini S. Johray, whose meticulous research and unwavering dedication show up exactly where the narrative needs it. His work doesn’t just build a world; it grounds the story in a lived-in authenticity that’s hard to shake off.

Editor - 

Nitin Baid -  The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Homebound 

A cut can take a film from emotional drama to a knife-twisting mystery, which is why the editor’s job, though it often appears invisible, is actually the most visible force shaping the rhythm of what we watch. And while Nitin Baid has long been considered a go-to editor, this year would have looked completely different without him. He edited a series like The Ba**ds of Bollywood, where every episode and the entire show holds you firmly in the grip of its satire, and also a film like Homebound, where every cut gently elevates the story, making it feel as if life itself is unfolding right in front of you.

Costume designer- 

Sheetal Iqbal Sharma - Saiyaara, Chhaava, Kesari 2, Kaalidhar Laapata, Songs of Paradise, Thamma

With the list of titles in his filmography this year, one could say that every time a character came alive on screen, they were dressed by Sheetal Iqbal Sharma. Whether it was styling vampires in Thamma, crafting historically rooted looks for Chhaava, capturing the delicate essence of a Kashmiri kali in Songs of Paradise, or creating understated yet impactful everyday costumes in Saiyaara, Sharma consistently delivered on the brief. His designs didn’t just clothe the characters, they articulated their personalities, their worlds, and the subtleties that make them who they are.

Cinematographer - 

Saumyananda Sahi (Black Warrant) and Krish Makhija (The Mehta Boys)

Camera serves as the visual language of a content, but when it becomes seamlessly intertwined with the source material it weaves a different story, something both Saumyananda Sahi and Krish Makhija accomplish this year. While Sahi’s play with light and shadows captures life inside four walls of Tihar Jail through a stark metaphor of blacks and whites, Makhija’s camera lingers on the cracked walls and peeling textures, allowing us to witness the fractures within a father–son relationship. 

Screenwriter - 

Sankalp Sadanah and Rohan Shankar (Saiyaara) and Bilal Siddiqui and Manav Chauhan (The Ba***ds of Bollywood)

The two titles were undeniably the talk of the town, and the credit also goes to their writers, who shaped these stories with conviction. Written by Sankalp Sadanah and dialogues by Rohan Shankar,Saiyaara brings a refreshing twist to the classic tragedy tale of romance, as a familiar template gets sensitivity and texture to make the old feel newly alive. And while Aryan Khan may be the visionary behind The Ba**ds of Bollywood, his co-writers Bilal Siddiqui and Manav Chauhan bring an equal measure of sharpness and brilliance to the narrative, crafting a meta, satirical take on Bollywood.

Are there are any other people working behind the lens in 2025 that should be in the list? Let us know in the comments below!

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manish malhotra Mukesh Chhabra Black Warrant Chhaava Dhurandhar Saiyaara Nitin Baid The Bads of Bollywood Shashwat Sachdev sheetal iqbal sharma