The best performances of Indian cinema in 2025 include Basil Joseph’s clumsy gold dealer in Poneman, Ishaan Khattar’s Dalit Chandan (Homebound), Monica Panwar’s fear-filled role, Dhruv Vikram’s Kabaddi player (Bison Kalamadan).
8 best acting performances of 2025: Year 2025: Many talented actors have impressed the audience with their acting. It was a wonderful year for Indian cinema, and here are some of the performances that have brought me joy across platforms and languages. It has received a lot of praise on social media for this.
Basil Joseph in Poneman
Basil Joseph in Poneman is brilliant in every way, not only in comedy but he can also do wonders in dramatic roles. His gold dealer Ajesh is a noob, even though he comes across as a side character. But he continues to leave his impact. This is his story, and he will go to any extent to get his money back. Basil Joseph has shown courage and tremendous depth in the character.
Ishaan Khattar in Homebound
Ishaan Khattar has given films like The Royals and Homebound in the year 2025. Her powerful performance with Neeraj Ghaywan is her best work on screen till date. As Chandan, a Dalit man who faces repeated discrimination, Khattar breathes life into the character.
Monica Panwar in fear
Monica Panwar has also given excellent performances in Khauff and Nishanchi in the year 2025. In Khauff, she plays a memorable character of a woman haunted by the shadows of her past. In this slow-burn horror, the real world is scarier than the supernatural. Looking at them in this, it seems that men are more scary than demons. Monica Panwar has also looked perfect in Nishanchi.
Dhruv Vikram in Bison Kalamadan
Dhruv Vikram is a promising Kabaddi player in Mari Selvaraj’s Bison Kalamadan, he has given a strong performance in it. Kitten can’t escape the world she’s grown up in, which is more demanding than just her talents. He keeps running, hoping to somehow leave it all behind. But will he be able to do this? It’s obviously a physically demanding role. But here are some difficult scenes that require more than just looks. Vikram has brilliantly portrayed the body language and inner turmoil of a player who musters the courage to confront and prove his worth.
Sharmila Tagore in Purtavan
In Suman Ghosh’s Bengali movie, Sharmila Tagore steals the show from the very first shot, as an 80-year-old woman who is slowly losing her memory. Saif Ali Khan’s mother has done negligible acting in many scenes, she is just reacting, but in that she leaves an impact. As she continues to lose her memories and become suspicious, she reacts in a very touching manner. It’s a brilliant, brilliant performance. She can’t remember many things, but she can try.
Bhagyashree Borse in Kantha
A different color of Bhagyashree Borse has been seen in Kantha. She dominates the screen as soon as she appears. She has a strong performance in the film with Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role. She looks stunning as Kumari in the period mystery thriller and dominates the frame every time she tries to make her mark in the industry as that doe-eyed refugee girl.
Athish Shetty in Mithya
Sumant Bhat’s Kannada-language movie in which a boy is deeply depressed after losing both his parents. Actor Athish Shetty has given a very emotional central performance in this. In this, he moves away from his angry moments. His grief is also visible, in the emptiness that comes after accepting loss.
Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok 2
Jaideep Ahlawat has done a better job than before in the role of Hathi Ram Chaudhary in the second season of Paatal Lok 2. In this, several plots emerge simultaneously, which also creates suspense. Ahlawat is always there to save the day, and it’s his presence that humanizes this conflict, making the anger and frustration of everything clearly visible. Concern and honesty are clearly visible in his dialogue with Ansari.