Bollywood 2025: Hits, Hype and Heartbreaks as Dhurandhar Redefines the Year
2025 proved to be one of the most eventful years for Bollywood in recent memory—a year defined as much by spectacle and surprises as by sharp creative shifts. From box-office shocks and OTT dominance to the arrival of new stars and the loss of enduring legends like Dharmendra, the Hindi film industry witnessed it all. Towering over many of the year’s conversations was Dhurandhar, a late-year release that became both a commercial force and a creative statement—resetting expectations from mainstream action cinema. IBNS–TWF correspondent Supriyo Hazra tracks how Bollywood’s many stories unfolded over the past 12 months.
Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Film That Changed the Conversation
Released on December 5, Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar emerged as one of the most consequential films of 2025, ending the year with momentum, buzz and sustained box-office traction. At a time when big-budget spectacles were faltering, Dhurandhar stood out for its rooted storytelling, political undercurrents and muscular yet restrained execution.
At the heart of the film was Ranveer Singh, delivering what many critics described as a career-defining performance. Stripping away flamboyance for intensity, Ranveer brought gravitas, rage and control to a role that demanded emotional depth as much as physicality. The film’s success firmly re-established him as a bankable leading man capable of carrying serious, high-stakes cinema.
Equally striking was the return of Akshaye Khanna in commanding form like his film’s title track—loud, unapologetic and impossible to ignore. His layered, ominous performance became one of the film’s most discussed elements, drawing widespread praise for its quiet menace and precision. For many, Dhurandhar marked Akshaye Khanna’s return to centre stage—less a comeback, more a reclamation.
With packed theatres, strong word-of-mouth and relentless social media chatter, Dhurandhar didn’t just close the year on a high—it reshaped audience expectations, proving that intelligent, performance-driven action films still have the power to dominate the big screen.
Aditya Dhar with his key actors of Dhurandhar. Photo: Aditya Dhar/X
Aditya Dhar thus cemented his reputation in 2025 as one of Hindi cinema’s most assured contemporary directors with Dhurandhar. Known for his sharp command over narrative tension and nationalist themes, Dhar demonstrated a notable evolution in his filmmaking—balancing scale with restraint, and spectacle with substance. With Dhurandhar, the director of Uri: The Surgical Strike and Article 370 moved beyond the template of high-decibel action to deliver a politically charged, performance-driven film that trusted silence as much as impact. The film’s success reinforced Dhar’s standing as a filmmaker who understands both the pulse of the audience and the power of disciplined storytelling, marking him as a defining creative force of the decade.
Aamir Khan: A Return with a Message
After a long hiatus, Aamir Khan returned to the silver screen with the much-anticipated Sitaare Zameen Par. The film, mounted on a budget of ₹80 crore, earned ₹166.8 crore domestically. Staying true to his image, Aamir once again attempted to deliver a socially relevant message. While the film registered respectable numbers, it didn’t quite achieve the emotional or commercial sweep his fans had hoped for.
Hrithik Roshan: Big Budget, Bigger Shock
Released on the eve of Independence Day, War 2 was positioned as one of the biggest action spectacles of the year, with Hrithik Roshan teaming up with Jr. NTR. However, despite its massive scale and a staggering reported budget of ₹400 crore, the film failed to meet expectations, collecting only ₹240.5 crore at the domestic box office—making it one of the year’s biggest disappointments.
Shah Rukh Khan: 60 and Still Reigning
Though Shah Rukh Khan had no theatrical release in 2025, the year marked a monumental personal milestone as Bollywood’s Badshah turned 60 on November 2. The celebrations were grand, with fans and celebrities alike pouring in their love. All eyes are now set on his much-awaited comeback in 2026 with King.
Kriti Sanon: Romance Makes a Comeback
After years dominated by action thrillers, 2025 saw a revival of romance with Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. The film crossed the ₹100 crore mark and continues to perform steadily. Kriti emerged as a key face of this romantic resurgence.
Saif Ali Khan: A Year Marked by Real-Life Drama
Rather than professional milestones, Saif Ali Khan made headlines for a shocking personal incident when he was stabbed by a burglar who broke into his home in January. The actor recovered after hospitalization, and the incident left the industry deeply shaken.
Manoj Bajpayee: OTT’s Unstoppable Force
Manoj Bajpayee once again proved his unmatched consistency with the return of The Family Man Season 3. The series shattered all streaming records to become Prime Video India’s most-watched show of 2025, reaffirming Bajpayee’s dominance across formats.
Deepika Padukone: A Quiet Year
Fans eagerly awaited Deepika Padukone’s return after she embraced motherhood in 2024. However, 2025 saw her completely absent from theatrical releases—a rare break in an otherwise unstoppable career.
Ranveer Singh: Dhurandhar, Dominance and a Career-Defining Turn
One of the biggest talking points of the year was Ranveer Singh’s thunderous return with Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, released on December 5. The film didn’t just open strong—it rewrote the late-year box-office narrative, emerging as one of 2025’s most impactful action dramas.
Ranveer Singh, said critics, delivered a career-defining performance. Photo: B62 Studios
Ranveer’s intense, controlled and politically charged performance marked a significant evolution from his flamboyant past roles, earning praise across critics and audiences alike. Dhurandhar was widely described as game-changing, both for Ranveer’s career trajectory and for mainstream Hindi cinema’s renewed appetite for gritty, rooted storytelling. Social media buzz, packed theatres and sustained footfalls turned the film into one of the year’s loudest successes.
Akshaye Khanna: A Return in Quiet Glory
Akshay Khanna's pulsating entry with an Arabic rhythm. Photo: YouTube
Salman Khan’s Eid release Sikandar, co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, opened big but failed to sustain momentum. Despite one of the year’s strongest openings, the film couldn’t recreate the traditional Salman-on-Eid box-office magic.
Katrina Kaif: Motherhood Over Movies
2025 marked a beautiful personal milestone for Katrina Kaif, who welcomed a baby boy with husband Vicky Kaushal on November 7. While Katrina remained away from the big screen, Vicky enjoyed box-office success with the period drama Chhaava.
Ayushmann Khurrana: Horror-Comedy Strikes Gold
Ayushmann Khurrana explored new territory with the Diwali release Thama, co-starring Rashmika Mandanna. The vampire-themed horror-comedy stood out for its originality and was well received for its quirky storytelling.
Akshay Kumar: The Comeback King of 2025
After a forgettable 2024, Akshay Kumar bounced back in style with multiple releases—Sky Force, Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5 and Jolly LLB 3. He also made his Telugu debut with a cameo in Kannappa, making 2025 one of his busiest and most successful years in recent times.
The Other Phenomenon of the Year: Saiyaara
Aneet Padda & Ahaan Panday – The Birth of Two New Stars
Just as Hrithik Roshan’s debut reshaped Bollywood in 2000, 2025 witnessed an unlikely storm with Saiyaara. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda emerged as overnight sensations as the romantic drama set the box office ablaze. Viral videos of audiences breaking down in packed theatres became a defining image of the year. In an era dominated by OTT, Saiyaara reignited youthful theatrical frenzy and announced two confident new stars for Bollywood’s future.
Special Mentions
Ajay Devgn
Ajay Devgn delivered strong performances in Raid 2 and later surprised fans with his romantic turn opposite Rakul Preet Singh in De De Pyaar De 2. His versatility and consistency kept him firmly relevant.
Kiara Advani
Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in July 2024. While she kept a relatively low profile on screen in 2025, expectations remain high for her return.
RIP: The Legends We Lost in 2025
Bollywood mourned deeply in 2025 as it bid farewell to several timeless icons.
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Dharmendra (89) — Passed away on November 24 in Mumbai, leaving behind an immortal legacy.
Dharmendra’s passing in 2025 marked the end of an era, but his presence in Indian cinema remains indelible. Rising from humble beginnings to become Bollywood’s original He-Man, he embodied a rare blend of rugged masculinity and gentle romance. From the raw intensity of Phool Aur Patthar and Sholay to the lyrical tenderness of Anupama and Chupke Chupke, Dharmendra’s range defied easy categorisation. Few stars could command the screen with brute strength in one frame and disarming vulnerability in the next, making him a bridge between the golden age of Hindi cinema and its more commercial, star-driven future.
Dharmendra’s demise marks the end of an era. The actor in Sholay. Photo: YouTube Screenshot -
Beyond box-office records and iconic roles, Dharmendra’s true legacy lies in his timeless connect with audiences across generations. Even decades after his peak, his dialogue delivery, physical grace and earthy charm continue to shape how heroism is imagined in Hindi films. As tributes poured in from across the industry in 2025, it became clear that Dharmendra was more than a superstar—he was a cultural constant, a symbol of sincerity and warmth in an ever-changing industry. His films live on not just as memories, but as living chapters of Bollywood’s collective soul.
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Sulakshana Pandit (71) — Died on November 6; her work from the ’70s and ’80s remains cherished.
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Satish Shah (74) — The versatile actor passed away on October 25.
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Asrani (84) — The legendary comic actor died on October 20.
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Zubeen Garg (52) — The celebrated Assamese singer died in Singapore on September 19.
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Manoj Kumar (87) — The icon of patriotic cinema passed away on April 4 in Mumbai.
Photo credits: B62 Studios, YouTube, Aditya Dhar X page, Official Facebook pages, Wikipedia
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
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