From Abhishek Bachchan in Kaalidhar Laapata to Manoj Bajpayee in Jugnuma, check out the most underrated Bollywood performances of 2025 that left everyone impressed.
Despite a year packed with star-driven blockbusters and high-profile releases, some of the most powerful performances in Bollywood came from actors who quietly transformed their films with craft, emotional depth, and sheer screen presence. These standout roles may not have received the spotlight they deserved, but they remain among 2025’s finest.
Check out the list of top underrated performances of 2025:
1. Abhishek Banerjee — Stolen
Abhishek Banerjee delivered one of his career’s most haunting performances in Stolen. With quiet intensity and emotional precision, he portrayed a man spiralling through fear, guilt, and desperation. His restraint became his greatest strength. Every silence spoke louder than words, every expression carried a story. It’s a deeply affecting performance that deserved far more conversation and acclaim.
2. Adarsh Gourav — Superboys of Malegaon
Adarsh Gourav shone bright in Superboys of Malegaon, capturing the innocence and aspiration of small-town dreamers with remarkable sincerity. His performance is charming yet grounded, balancing humor with heart in a way only he can. Adarsh brings an authenticity that elevates every frame he’s in, and his portrayal lingers long after the credits roll.
3. Vishal Jethwa — Homebound
Vishal Jethwa continues to be one of Bollywood’s most quietly powerful performers, and Homebound was further proof of his brilliance. His emotionally dense portrayal, raw, tender, and heartbreaking, stood out as one of the year’s finest. Jethwa captures the turmoil of a character navigating trauma, loss, and a fragile sense of hope, making his performance unforgettable and deeply moving.
4. Abhishek Bachchan — Kaalidhar Laapata
In Kaalidhar Laapata, Abhishek Bachchan delivered a quietly powerful performance as a middle‑aged man grappling with memory loss, abandonment and the unexpected journey toward rediscovery. His portrayal brought depth and emotional resonance to a story about unlikely friendship and self‑worth, anchoring the film with sincerity and warmth that many feel went underappreciated this year.
5. Boman Irani — Mehta Boys
Boman Irani delivered a beautifully understated performance in Mehta Boys, portraying a father navigating fractured relationships and long-buried regrets. With his trademark finesse, Boman infused the role with warmth, dignity, and quiet anguish. It’s a layered, deeply humane performance that didn’t receive the attention it deserved but remains one of the year’s most emotionally resonant. He also directed the film.
6. Manoj Bajpayee — Jugnuma
Manoj Bajpayee delivered yet another masterclass in subtle, lived-in acting with Jugnuma. As a man weighed down by unspoken grief and the quiet burdens of everyday survival, he brought an extraordinary stillness to the screen. His performance is restrained but profoundly affecting, revealing layers of vulnerability in the smallest gestures and pauses.
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