From Zahaan Kapoor, Raghav Juyal to Shantanu Maheshwari, Monika Panwar: 8 young actors who owned OTT in 2025

In 2025, Indian OTT shifted from superstars to nuanced character models. Young actors lead this era with mature, authentic performances, prioritising character depth over melodrama and tropes.

Monika Panwar in Khauf; Raghav Juyal in The Ba***ds of Bollywood; Shantanu Maheshwari in Campus Beats; Zahaan Kapoor in Black Warrant

In 2025, there was a massive change in the Indian digital scene. Earlier this year, the young actors dominated OTT platforms, while more renowned Bollywood stars made the transition to the small screen. The acting has improved the most, but the stories have grown more daring, and the writing has gotten much sharper. Actors in their 30s are now taking on multi-layered, multi-faceted roles with an air of maturity that was formerly only associated with seasoned pros.

Because of OTT platforms, these actors now have more time on their hands than they would with a two-hour theatrical release. This has led to an increase in "live" performances, where actors subtly develop characters' arcs instead of dramatising them. Among the most notable events of the year, several young performers stood out as the driving forces behind Indian streaming, demonstrating that the country's cinema is being led by qualified individuals.

The popularity of these young performers reflects a shift in taste. The "superstar" model is losing popularity as viewers prefer "character" models. We want to see a performance we can get behind, not only root for a hero.

ALSO READ: Black Warrant Review: Vikramaditya Motwane said, ‘Coming of age but make it brutal’ and a stellar Zahan Kapoor obliged

Shantanu Maheshwari

One of the most recognisable faces in youth-orientated digital content Shantanu Maheshwari, plays Ishaan again in Campus Beats Season 5. In 2025, Maheshwari's performance stands out due to its authenticity. From being a trope to a fully realised character, Ishaan has gone through many seasons.

Maheshwari plays the traditional "hard exterior, soft interior" role with an innate ease of expression. He skilfully copes with both his personal struggles and competitive dancing, avoiding the pitfalls of overacting. Rather, he immerses himself in the character's development, which makes Ishaan seem less like a caricature and more like a friend the viewer has known his whole life. His enduring talent for capturing both the intensity of his trade and the fragility of teenage love serves as the show's lynchpin.

Raghav Juyal

For Raghav Juyal, The Ba***ds of Bollywood is arguably the year's most transformative performance. It wasn't long before Juyal was mostly thought of as a dancer and comedic relief actor. However, in his role as Parvaiz, Juyal has completely redefined expectations for that character type.

Parvaiz is a character who is purposefully awkward, disorganised, and ethically torn. Juyal makes no effort to make the character likeable or to solicit sympathy from the spectator. Because he embraces the character's imperfections and awkwardness, the audience respects him sarcastically. Juyal has become a major drama force in the industry with this performance, which is characterised by restraint and a sophisticated grasp of character psychology.

Anya Singh

Anya Singh demonstrates the art of subtle acting in the same story universe as The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Her grounded emotional weight is a welcome relief from the show's cast of dramatic, high-stakes characters. While writing, she stays away from "dramatic highs" and instead provides the character room to breathe. The use of quiet impact and quietness by Singh is a welcome shift in a performance style that is generally dictated by "viral moments" in the year 2025. Her silent performances leave a lasting impact, proving that screen presence encompasses more than just volume.

Sahher Bambba

The refreshing honesty that Sahher Bambba brings to the screen in The Ba***ds of Bollywood is similar. She seems more natural than she practiced in her performance. By speaking and acting in a completely natural way, Bambba conveys all of the nuanced emotions of her role. This year's study conducted by her supports the argument that digital actors often benefit the most from exercising restraint.

Zahaan Kapoor

Zahaan Kapoor's debut performance in Black Warrant has generated a lot of buzz since its release. His performance has an unusual quietness for an actor of his tender age. He has faith in the script and lets his character develop naturally rather than attempting to "own" every moment with spectacular gestures. His performance stays with the audience long after the show has ended because of his patience. An observant viewer will be rewarded by this acting style's slow burn.

Shalini Pandey

Dabba Cartel is another proof that Shalini Pandey is a fan favourite when it comes to her multi-layered storytelling. Her performance embodies a harmonious interplay of vulnerability, power, and subtle rebellion. The combination of relatability and unpredictability is a quality that contemporary OTT viewers are demanding, and Pandey has a talent for creating it. She proves once again that she is a multi-talented actor as she grits her way through the plot's intricacies.

Mayur More

You can't talk about the youth of 2025 without bringing up Mayur More. Black, White & Grey - Love Kills is his latest triumph in a string of roles that demand the actor to be completely believable. The spectator is able to empathise with his character's plight because of his extraordinary talent for embodying the common man.

Monika Panwar

Khauf manages to avoid being a parody of the horror/thriller genre thanks to Monika Panwar's genuine approach. Her portrayal of both vulnerability and strength is what makes the protagonist's odyssey captivating. Panwar, like her contemporaries, reaps the rewards of OTT models' capacity to centre on stakes generated by characters rather than plot twists alone.

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