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From Akshaye Khanna to Jaideep Ahlawat, our screens were dominated by these faces whether in films or on streaming, they were impossible to look away from!
Every year, there’s usually someone who dominates the conversation like a queen or king, but 2025 felt different. This year belonged to many from Akshaye Khanna, Jaideep Ahlawat, to Manoj Pahwa, and more who weren’t just seen across multiple projects, but completely owned them with their performances. The entire internet couldn’t help but be obsessed with their work. So here is a list of the people who truly made this year theirs, as if there were an award just for that!
Also Read: #BingeRewind: Behind the lens crew without whom these titles wouldn't be exactly the same and neither the year!
Akshaye Khanna - Chhaava, Dhurandhar
2025 has truly been the year Akshaye Khanna finally received his long-overdue credit as an actor. His spine-chilling turn as Mughal emperor Aurangzeb stole the show in Chhaava. He brought out the cold, calculating ruthlessness of Aurangzeb’s mind, and some scenes were genuinely terrifying to watch. But that wasn’t all. He ended the year as the notorious Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar, a character now adored across social media for being as thrilling to watch as his kasainuma killing style and he did this even with Ranveer Singh as the film’s lead. Akshaye Khanna has officially become a Gen Z favourite, and people simply can’t stop talking about the sheer swag he brings to the screen!
Jaideep Ahlawat - Pataal Lok 2, The Family Man 3, Jewel Thief
Jaideep returned with his grounded performance as the ever-lovable Hathi Ram Chaudhary in Pataal Lok 2, a man simply trying to do his duty as a police officer truthfully and meaningfully while juggling the chaos of his personal life. In a twisted turn of fate, he also found his way back to Nagaland in The Family ManSeason 3, this time as a local gangster aiming to play big, and ended up being loved even more than Manoj Bajpayee, who has led the show since Season 1. If that says anything, it’s just the sheer love audiences have for Jaideep Ahlawat. And who didn’t enjoy him dancing in Jewel Thief!
Manoj Pahwa - The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Perfect Family, Single Papa
It’s like Manoj Pahwa has been seen everywhere this year. As he plays almost the similar version of the same character in different content, he makes sure to give distinct style to each. As the unsuccessful uncle in The Ba***ds of Bollywood or as the completely oblivious patriarch of the family in the Perfect Family, he brought an understanding to these characters while offering to be a comedic respite. No wonder he is beloved by many!
Sheeba Chaddha - Rangeen, Bakaiti, Haq, Songs of Paradise, The Trial 2, The Great Shamsuddin Family
Another face that just doesn’t stop showing up and we love her all the more for it is that of Sheeba Chaddha! Whether she is the conflicted mother who is doing it all for the sake of the family, or a boss lady who owns it on her own in the capitalist world, she knows how to bring a shade to each character, making us fall in love with her all over again despite the content she is a part of.
Ishaan Khatter - Homebound, The Royals
The man who could easily define what range of an actor looks like this year would be Ishaan Khatter. Just as effortlessly as he made the entire country go mad for his looks, style, and raw sexiness as a born royal in The Royals, he flipped the script to embody the haunting reality of being Shoaib in this divided yet united land. His portrayal carries a lived-in truth that’s impossible to look away from. He went from playing royalty to disappearing into poverty in a blink, and made it all feel heartbreakingly real.
Raghav Juyal- The Ba***ds of Bollywood
The reigning champion of a face that impressed so many with just one performance to the point where people couldn’t stop making endless reels about him and devouring every podcast he appeared in was Raghav Juyal. The dancer-turned-actor has finally found his ground to shine, and after Parvaiz, he simply refuses to slow down. He knows exactly how to strike that balance between being the comedic relief and going all guns blazing when the drama demands it!
Emraan Hashmi - The Ba***ds of Bollywood, Haq, Ground Zero
Even though the scene about him in The Ba**ds of Bollywood was more famous for Juyal’s performance, as Parvaiz he spoke a truth that we’ve all lived with because Hashmi is the definition of a whole different genre of cinema, one where music truly lives. And seeing his return feels like a celebration for die-hard Hashmi fans. His performances in Haqand Ground Zero show that he is far more than what meets the eye, stepping into an experimental phase that everyone has long been waiting for.
Huma Qureshi - Jolly LLB 3, Delhi Crime 3, Maharani season 4
In a single scene-stealing moment inJolly LLB 3, Huma Qureshi once again made it clear why she remains an underutilised actor in mainstream cinema. While theatrical films often fail to tap into her range, OTT platforms have allowed her to truly shine, whether as a formidable Bihari politician in Maharani Season 4 or as a loud, manipulative, and dramatic antagonist in Delhi Crime Season 3. In inhabiting these roles, she ensures that even as we enjoy watching these characters, we are also compelled to question them, speaking volumes about the depth and range she brings to the screen.
Manoj Bajpayee- The Family Man 3, Jugnuma and Inspector Zende
Manoj Bajpayee dominated the year with major projects across films and OTT space, showcasing his range and versatility. He was nuanced as the middle class spy- Srikant Tiwari in The Family Man 3 and delivered a subtle and restrained performance as Dev in the festival-acclaimed Jugnuma: The Fable, adding his midas touch to the poetic storytelling of the film. Not to forget, his role in Inspector Zende that showcased his comical genius as the sharp witted cop!
Fatima Sana Shaikh - Metro In Dino, Gustaakh Ishq, Aap Jaisa Koi
Fatima was another standout this year practically everywhere whether she was dazzling in stunning costumes on-screen or serving looks behind the scenes during promotions. And her performances spoke for her talent just as loudly. Whether it was holding her own in the ensemble of Metro In Dino or slipping into romance spaces with Gustaakh Ishq or Aap Jaisa Koi, Shaikh clearly understood the memo of each character and knew exactly how to carry them into the world outside the films as well.
Were there are any other personalities to whom 2025 belonged to? Let us know in the comments below!
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