Every year, Bollywood faces its share of criticism about repetitive stories, changing music tastes, creative fatigue ore more. Yet, 2025 proved once again that strong performances can silence every debate and left audience talking. This year, actors across generations stepped up, chose challenging roles and brought fresh stories alive on screen. Some performances moved audiences, some shocked them and others stayed long after the credits rolled.
As the year comes to a close, here’s a look at the performances of 2025 that truly got people talking.
Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj – Chhaava
Vicky Kaushal has built his career on fearless choices and Chhaava may well be his most demanding role yet. Portraying Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Vicky truly brought intensity, physical transformation and emotional depth to a legendary warrior’s story. His rage, vulnerability and silent strength felt lived-in rather than performed.
The film went on to become one of the biggest box office successes of the year, reportedly crossing ₹800 crore worldwide. More importantly, it marked a career high for Vicky, proving his ability to carry any role with conviction.
Ishaan Khatter & Vishal Jethwa as Mohammed and Chandan – Homebound
Homebound may not have shattered box office records but it shattered hearts. Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa equally delivered deeply moving performances as two migrant workers trapped during the COVID-19 lockdown in Surat.
Their portrayal felt raw, restrained and painfully real. The emotional weight they carried never felt forced. The film’s entry into the global awards circuit including recognition at international platforms was a testament to how powerful storytelling doesn’t need scale, just honesty.
Sanya Malhotra as Richa – Mrs.
In Mrs., Sanya Malhotra once again proved why she is one of the most reliable actors of her generation. Playing a woman navigating domestic patriarchy within her in-laws’ home, Sanya chose subtlety over melodrama.
Her performance spoke volumes through silence, body language and restrained emotion. While the film is a remake, its relevance felt fresh and such stories remind us that its never enough to talk about. Also, this groundbreaking role earned her major Best Actress wins on the OTT awards circuit and sparked conversations around gender roles and everyday sexism.
Akshaye Khanna – Chhaava, Dhurandhar & Akshardham
Akshaye Khanna indeed had a remarkable year, delivering three distinct performances across films and OTT. From his epic transformation as Aurangzeb in Chhaava was truly chilling and almost unrecognisable. In Dhurandhar, he once again proved that negative characters when played with depth, can redefine audience perception as appreciating the actor’s performance arc above all.
What stood out was how audiences praised Akshaye across all releases, regardless of the character’s morality. Rarely does an actor receive consistent acclaim throughout a single year and 2025 belonged to him in that sense.
Adarsh Gourav as Nasir – Superboys of Malegaon
Superboys of Malegaon celebrated dreams, passion and grassroots filmmaking. Adarsh Gourav anchored the film with a grounded and sincere performance as Nasir, an amateur filmmaker chasing cinema against all odds.
His portrayal brought warmth and relatability, making the true story even more impactful through raw portrayal and once again reminded audiences that powerful cinema often comes from real lives and simple emotions.
Kriti Sanon as Mukti – Tere Ishk Mein
National-awarding winning actress Kriti Sanon yet again stepped into a powerful role, this time in a mature territory with Tere Ishk Mein. Playing Mukti, a woman negotiating love, independence and self-worth, Kriti delivered a calm yet confident performance.
The role stood apart from her earlier romantic outings, earning appreciation for its emotional restraint and realism. Despite sharing screen space with a strong co-actor like Dhanush, Kriti made the film equally hers.
More Performances That Deserve a Mention
2025 also saw several other actors leaving a strong impression. Aaishvary Thackeray surprised many with Nishanchi 1 & 2. Abhishek Bachchan delivered solid performances in Kaalidhar Laapata and Be Happy. Kritika Kamra impressed in The Great Shamsuddin Family. Janhvi Kapoor shone in Homebound while Ananya Panday also received praise for her lawyer role in Kesari Chapter 2. Abhishek Banerjee (Stolen), Triptii Dimri and Siddhant (Dhadak 2) also stood out.
2025 reminded us why performances matter more than noise. From grand historicals to intimate dramas, actors pushed boundaries and gave audiences stories worth remembering. As Bollywood moves forward, these performances have set the bar higher and expectations even higher!
ALSO READ: Love, Loss & Link-Ups: Celebrity Relationships That Made News In 2025
source https://lehren.com/chhaava-mrs-homebound-most-talked-about-performances-of-2025-in-bollywood/
