What is the story about?
With new films and series releasing alongside old favourites, 2025 gave viewers a chance to experience it all. The top Hindi series of this past year were
based on all sorts of stories, such as true, fictional, and some decidedly meta events from Netflix's The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Horror, crime thrillers, and family dramas ruled the small screen as usual, and with it, audiences saw breakout performances from talented young actors and actresses. Established stars showed off their mettle as well, letting viewers know that there were so many more sides to them. It was difficult to single out certain spots amongst some adept ensemble casts. In the end, audiences were the winners as they experienced some truly transformative and award-winning performances on OTT titles like Khauf, Black Warrant, Stolen, and more. Without further ado, here are the top OTT performances of the year.
Top 7 OTT Performances of 2025
Monika Panwar in Khauf
With Class of '83, Jamtara, Dukaan, and Gaanth Chapter 1, Monika has been working steadily for the past six years. But with the releases of Khauf and the Nishaanchi films, 2025 has been her year. Both performances have been wildly different. In Amazon Prime Video's Khauf, Monika plays Madhu, a young woman fighting against the horrors of a big city in the chilling metaphorical supernatural horror story created by Smita Singh. While in Nishaanchi, she plays the mother of twin boys who grow up to become big crooks. In both, her presence is commanding; you can't look away when she's on screen.
Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok 2 and The Family Man 3
Actor Jaideep Ahlawat has been stealing scenes since he first began acting in Bollywood. In 2025, he put up two imposing performances with Paatal Lok and The Family Man. In the former, he returned after five years to play jaded police officer Hath Ram Chaudhary. The second series even surpassed the first in terms of story and performance. Jaideep also joined the Amazon Prime Video favourite The Family Man as Rukma, the new antagonist, and drew as much buzz as the returning cast. No matter what the role, Jaideep always delivers.
Zahan Kapoor in Black Warrant
Before Netflix's Black Warrant, Zahan Kapoor had only one other role under his belt. He received laurels for his debut film, Faraaz (2022), and in the period prison drama, Zahan held his own against a strong ensemble cast that included Rahul Bhat, Paramvir Singh Cheema, and Anurag Thakur. Acting is in his blood; after all, he is the grandson of Shashi Kapoor. But in Black Warrant, Zahan showed that he can lead a series with his quiet and impressive performance as rookie jailer Sunil Gupta.
Lakshya in The Ba***ds of Bollywood
Aryan Khan's The Ba***ds of Bollywood was an insider's look at the film industry, and there were so many outstanding performances from the show, both leading and supporting. But it was Lakshya who led both the story and the show as the outsider who makes it big. Starting out with television and a breakthrough role in film with Kill (2023), Lakshya became part of the zeitgeist with The Ba***ds of Bollywood, coincidentally with his Kill co-star Raghav Juyal. Whether it was his bromance with Parvaiz (Juyal), his action skills, or his comedic timing and dramatic scenes, Lakshya proved he had it all.
Surveen Chawla in Mandala Murders
As politician Ananya Bharadwaj in the murder mystery series Mandala Murders, Surveen Chawla is a standout from the cast of the Netflix series. Mixing the right bit of ruthlessness and control, the actress makes sure the rest of the characters and the audience know who is in charge. Between her role on another Netflix series, Rana Naidu, as Naina opposite Rana Daggubati, and this thriller, the Parched actress has had a terrific 2025.
Abhishek Banerjee in Stolen
In Karan Tejpal's urgent rural thriller Stolen, Abhishek Banerjee plays a bystander who gets involved in a kidnapping drama. The casting director-turned-actor gets put through the wringer in the feature film. This is not only an arresting performance of a man who is in way over his head during one eventful night; the actor gets pushed physically as well. The crime drama has few protagonists, and the film rests a lot on his shoulders as audiences begin to view events and the narrative through his eyes. Be it comedy or drama, Banerjee doesn't disappoint.
Sanya Malhotra in Mrs
It's always hard for an actress to step into a remake, especially for the Malayalam hit The Great Indian Kitchen (2021), which featured Nimisha Sajayan in a powerful performance. However, the Kathal star managed to make the role her own in the Hindi remake, Mrs. As Richa, a newlywed bride in an arranged marriage who enters her husband's home and is relegated to the kitchen for the foreseeable future. Sanya showcases her slowly dimming light well in the faithful remake that manages to hold its own.
