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From star kids carrying towering legacies to a handful of fresh faces attempting to break in, 2025 saw debutants dominate headlines — often more for who they were than what they delivered. However, only three among them — Aryan Khan, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda — managed to translate buzz into tangible success. And while the never-ending debate around nepotism continued to rage, one outsider — Aneet (Saiyaara) — surpassed the critical praise of many star kids who debuted this year.
Of all the newcomers launched in 2025, here’s a look at who passed — and who failed — the debut test.
The web show, written and directed by Aryan, turned out to be a massive success as it trended globally on Netflix and received largely positive reviews from critics. The series also topped IMDb’s Indian series list of 2025. Its satirical and self-aware commentary on Bollywood struck a chord with viewers. Aryan also managed to pull off a casting coup by roping in some of Bollywood’s biggest names for cameos, including Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan himself. The Ba***ds of Bollywood was bankrolled by Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri Khan’s production company, Red Chillies Entertainment.
Among the most talked-about debuts of the year, Ahaan Panday’s entry with Saiyaara turned out to be one of the rare win stories. The nephew of Chunky Panday and cousin of Ananya Panday, Ahaan’s success came largely on the back of performance rather than lineage.
Released in theatres with minimal promotion, Saiyaara surprised everyone when Ahaan and Aneet Padda’s raw, emotionally charged performances resonated strongly with younger audiences. The film emerged as a surprise hit and went on to become the second highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, only recently surpassed by Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar.
Sharing debut space with Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda emerged as one of 2025’s biggest surprises. An outsider in a year dominated by industry kids, Aneet’s natural screen presence and emotional restraint earned her widespread acclaim. She became an overnight sensation, with brand endorsements from names like Trends and Lakme coming her way. Speculation around her off-screen chemistry and rumoured romance with Ahaan Panday further fuelled headlines, making Aneet one of the most talked-about newcomers since her debut.
Another debutant who made considerable noise this year was Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani, who made her big-screen debut with Ajay Devgn-backed Azaad. While the film failed to leave a mark at the box office and exited theatres quietly, Rasha’s dance number “Ui Amma” became a viral moment. Her expressions and screen presence in the song drew comparisons with 1990s stars like her mother Raveena and Madhuri Dixit, ensuring she remained in public conversation despite the film’s lukewarm reception.
Azaad also launched another star kid — Ajay Devgn’s nephew Aaman Devgan. However, while co-star Rasha Thadani grabbed attention, Aaman’s performance largely went unnoticed. The film, which also featured Ajay Devgn, had a modest theatrical run and collected around Rs 8 crore worldwide, failing to create a strong launchpad for the actor.
Grandson of former Maharashtra CM Sushil Kumar Shinde and son of television producer Smriti Shinde, Veer Pahariya made his acting debut in Sky Force, playing second lead to Akshay Kumar. The film received mixed reviews, while Veer faced online trolling, with netizens accusing his PR machinery of aggressive promotion. The makers of Sky Force were also accused of inflating box office figures through alleged block bookings and corporate sales, further contributing to the discourse around the film and Veer’s debut.
One of the most trolled debutants of the year was Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh. He debuted opposite Khushi Kapoor in Nadaaniyan, which released on Netflix to negative reviews. Even Ibrahim himself admitted the film’s failure. Speaking to Esquire India, he said, “I’m just gonna go on record and say that it was a really bad film.” Following Nadaaniyan, he appeared in Kajol-led Sarzameen, which also failed to leave an impression.
Former Miss Universe Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu made her acting debut with Baaghi 4, becoming one of the few outsiders to enter Bollywood this year. However, the franchise-driven film left little room for a newcomer liek her to shine, with Tiger Shroff’s action-heavy role dominating the narrative. The film underperformed at the box office and received mixed reviews, making Harnaaz’s debut more symbolic than career-defining.
After years of speculation, Shanaya Kapoor, niece of Anil Kapoor, daughter of Sanjay Kapoor and cousin of Janhvi and Sonam Kapoor, finally made her debut with Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, opposite Vikrant Massey. Despite the prolonged build-up, her performance failed to create an impact, and the film bombed at the box office.
Actors like Zahan Kapoor and Sara Arjun also made headlines this year. Raj Kapoor’s lesser-known grandson Zahan, who debuted in Faraaz (2022), earned strong critical acclaim for his performance in Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant, which was hailed as one of the year’s finest performances. Black Warrant turned out to be Zahan’s debut in true sense.
Meanwhile, Sara Arjun, known for her work as a child actor, made her big Hindi-film leap opposite Ranveer Singh in Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar. Despite the nearly 20-year age gap, her performance was well-received by audiences.
Apart from Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the performance that truly won over critics and audiences alike was Vishal Jethwa’s heartbreaking turn in Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound. Though Vishal made his debut with Mardaani 2 and went on to play small roles in films like Salaam Venky, Tiger 3 and others, it was his portrayal of a migrant labourer in Homebound that finally gave him his due.
The one debut to watch out for next is Akshay Kumar’s niece Simar Bhatia, who makes her big-screen debut in Ikkis, which will release on January 1. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda in the lead and also marks the final on-screen appearance of legendary actor Dharmendra.
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