How 2026 saw new talent break through on OTT: Decoding rise of Akash Makhija, Prasanna Bisht, Samara Tijori, and more
The year 2026 has been replete with good stories on the Indian streaming scene. Shows and films from across genres have found audiences and connected with them. The streaming scene in India began over a decade ago with young, fresh faces leading new stories, before the stars took over. But the first half of 2026 has seen a sort of throwback to those ‘good old days’. Many Hindi films and shows releasing on OTT this year have delivered breakthrough performances by young actors, who seem to have a long future in the industry. Prasanna Bisht, Samara Tijori, Akash Makhija, and Yudhvir Ahlawat, some of the breakthrough stars of 2026. Bad is good, it gives you the breakthrough At a time when theatrical releases have shifted toward casting the biggest stars as villains, streaming is moving in the opposite direction. Some of the most memorable villains on Indian OTT this year were played by newcomers or relatively unknown actors. On Prime Video’s Raakh, Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav played two contrasting but equally evil serial killers. …
