Most popular Indian stars of 2025 aren't Shah Rukh, Deepika, Rajinikanth, Ranbir Kapoor; how 2 newcomers beat superstars

IMDb has unveiled its list of most popular Indian stars of 2025, and two newcomers have beaten veteran superstars in it.

Updated on: Dec 3, 2025, 10:53:31 IST

By Abhimanyu Mathur

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) unveiled their list of most popular Indian stars of 2025, based on search queries and buzz all through the years. In a surprising upset, two newcomers emerged victorious, defeating superstars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rajinikanth, and Ranbir Kapoor. The reason was the massive success of Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, which catapulted its leads - Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda - to overnight stardom.

Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in a still from Saiyaara.

IMDb most popular Indian stars of 2025

The IMDb list puts Ahaan in the number one spot in the list of most popular Indian stars of 2025, followed by his co-star Aneet at number 2. The two are followed by superstar Aamir Khan, who had a successful year with Sitaare Zameen Par. Other new names in the top 10 include Lakshya, who had a breakthrough with the web series, The Ba***ds of Bollywood, and Kalyani Priyadarshan, who starred in the Malayalam blockbuster Lokah Chapter One. Kantara Chapter One stars Rishab Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth bring up the rear in the list, which also includes Ishaan Khatter, Rashmika Mandanna, and Triptii Dimri.

Ahaan and Aneet react to the honour

The list was arrived at based on the page visits by over 250 million visitors on the IMDb site globally this year. Reacting to him being crowned the most popular Indian actor of 2025, Ahaan Panday said, “This is deeply humbling for me. To be ranked No. 1 on the IMDb Most Popular Indian Stars of 2025 list with my first film is nothing short of a dream come true and a full circle Paulo Coelho moment. But truly, if anything, this recognition makes me a little more aware of the responsibility I have towards my craft, and at the same time, it excites me for what’s to come.”

His co-star Aneet added, “Being recognised by IMDb as one of the Most Popular Indian Stars of 2025 still feels a little unreal. Saiyaara changed my life in ways I am only beginning to understand, and to know that people across countries and languages connected with my work means more to me than I can explain. I am deeply grateful to everyone who found something to love in Vaani. Your warmth has made this moment possible for me.”

The Saiyaara sensation

Saiyaara, directed by Mohit Suri, is one of the highest grossing Indian films of the year, with a worldwide gross of over ₹580 crore. It broke the records for the highest-grossing Bollywood romantic film, and the highest-grossing Indian film starring newcomers. Its success has turned the two young actors into overnight stars. Ahaan has now signed an action film with Ali Abbas Zafar, while Aneet will next star in Maddock’s horror comedy Shakti Shalini. Both actors have developed a large, dedicated fan base.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhimanyu Mathur
Abhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.