10 best acting performances of 2025: From Dhanush in Kuberaa to Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok Season 2
The moment we come out of a theatre, with several other strangers, perplexed and somewhat hushed in the shared silence of having witnessed something beautiful, is there any other feeling in the world that can translate that? I don’t think so. 2025 gifted us many such experiences, thanks to the wondrous and life-affirming work from these gifted actors. It was an incredible year for Indian cinema, and here are some performances that brought me joy across various platforms and languages. Dhanush in a still from Kuberaa, and Jaideep Ahlawat in Paatal Lok Season 2. Basil Joseph in Ponman Basil Joseph is all types of wonderful in Ponman, showing that he can ace in dramatic roles as smoothly as he does in comedy. His gold dealer Ajesh arrives like a bumbling, side character- but as the film progresses, he asserts and takes the centre stage. This is his story to tell, and he can go to extreme measures to recover his money. The actor brings grit and remarkable depth to his portrait of a man who …









