The year 2025 witnessed a fascinating shift in Bollywood as several prominent faces from in front of the camera, and some notable new entrants, stepped behind it to make their directorial debuts. This wave included star kids, veteran actors, and industry professionals, each bringing a unique vision to the screen across genres from satire and historical drama to thrillers and action.
Star Kids and Seasoned Actors Take the Director's Chair
One of the most talked-about launches was that of Aryan Khan, son of superstar Shah Rukh Khan. He entered the industry with a satirical web series titled 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood'. The show, which humorously explores the inner workings of the film world, generated significant buzz and became a major topic of discussion, marking one of the year's most anticipated directorial debuts.
Veteran actor Boman Irani also chose 2025 to present his first film as a director, 'The Mehta Boys'. Focusing on the complex emotional dynamics between a father and son, the film featured Irani alongside Avinash Tiwary. It premiered at prestigious international festivals including the International Film Festival of India, the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, and the Indian Film Festival Berlin, before its global OTT release. The film was met with largely positive reviews from critics.
Actor Sonu Sood marked his directorial entry early in the year with the action film 'Fateh'. He also starred in the lead role as an ex-agent forced to confront a powerful cyber mafia, with Jacqueline Fernandez as his co-star. Despite its high-octane premise, the film opened to mixed critical reception and faced challenges at the box office.
Diverse Stories and Varied Box Office Fortunes
Former lawyer-turned-writer Karan Singh Tyagi directed 'Kesari Chapter 2', featuring Akshay Kumar and Ananya Panday. The film revisited the historical Jallianwala Bagh Massacre through the lens of advocate Sir C. Sankaran Nair, blending history with courtroom drama. It was appreciated for its intent and performances but managed only a moderate collection in theatres.
Kussh S Sinha, son of actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, directed the thriller 'Nikita Roy', starring his sister Sonakshi Sinha. However, the film struggled to find an audience amidst strong competition, particularly from the hit film 'Saiyaara', and largely went unnoticed upon release.
Notable Debuts on Digital Platforms
Actress Tisca Chopra made a confident switch to direction with 'Saali Mohabbat', a film that opted for a direct-to-OTT release. Starring Radhika Apte as a small-town housewife whose life is upended by two mysterious deaths, and featuring Divyenndu in a key role, the film was produced by Manish Malhotra. It received a mixed to positive response from critics, who praised its storytelling and performances.
Overall, 2025 proved to be a landmark year for new directorial voices in Indian cinema. The debuts spanned a wide range of genres and release strategies, from big-screen historical dramas and satirical web series to intimate OTT releases, showcasing the evolving landscape of storytelling in Bollywood.
