2025 is about to end, and with the year, we have had the pleasure to watch many movies from Bollywood, which not only showcased high-intensity performances from its male actors, but also celebrated the storytelling of common individuals with whom we could sympathise. These were the characters which not only shone on the big screen but also created a special space in our hearts for the roles they respectively played. Here are the five top performances that MissMalini feels were the best of 2025. So let’s get started with the ranking of the top five performances from our favourite and talented Bollywood actors.
1. Vicky Kaushal – Chhaava
Standing big at number one is none other than Vicky Kaushal, who has delivered this year’s best performance as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The actor transformed himself not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally to portray the character of the great Maratha warrior. His fight against Aurangzeb, with grit, dedication and patriotism, was one of its kind. Kaushal absolutely captured the essence in each frame.
2. Akshaye Khanna – Dhurandhar
Number two, we have an actor who has been actively working in the Hindi film industry for over a couple of decades now, but the kind of recognition that he has been receiving this year is not just pleasing, but also shows that if you perform spectacularly, the audience is going to appreciate your work. And rightly proving this is Akshaye Khanna, who delivered two amazing performances this year, but the one that has been receiving bigger applause is his portrayal of Rehman Dakait. From dialogue delivery to intense eye expressions to even dancing for a few seconds, the actor has been receiving a lot of love from the audience.
3. Adarsh Gourav – Superboys of Malegaon
The third one to feature on the list is Adarsh Gourav, who has been actively working in India as well as on international platforms. The kind of energy that he brings into a film is something to marvel at. With his brilliant screen presence in Superboys of Malegaon, he again surprised the audience with his beautiful expressions and body language that kept us hooked to the screen.
4. Ishaan Khattar – Homebound
The fourth one on the list is talented, new-age actor Ishaan Khattar, who mesmerised the audience with his vulnerable performance in Neeraj Ghaywan’s internationally acclaimed film Homebound. Khattar portrayed the difficult journey of Mohammad Shib Ali that made many of us weep for the character. His brotherly equation with Vishal Jethwa stood out as one of the film’s finest elements.
5. Vineet Kumar Singh – Superboys of Malegaon
The last on the list, yet standing tall, is Vineet Kumar Singh, who has been in the industry for over a decade, a much-celebrated actor who has portrayed incredible performances in many of the films that he has featured in. But this year, with his heart-warming portrayal of Farogh, he won hearts. The actor not only portrayed the character with utmost sensitivity but also channelised his inner anguish through his intense dialogue delivery.
Truly, this year was a great blend of showcasing that our leading men can portray these varied characters on screen, a fearless warrior, a ruthless terrorist, someone who comes from an underprivileged background in a small village, and also the aspiring storytellers. They have redefined what it means to be bold, brave, dreamers and aspirers in Hindi cinema.
This was our ranking for this year’s top five actors, but what does our audience think? They can share their views on our social platforms and let us know their thoughts about it.