IMDb has unveiled its Most Popular Indian Stars and Directors of 2025, with newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda securing the top two spots after the success of their debut romantic drama ‘Saiyaara’.

The announcement is based on the platform’s STARmeter rankings, which reflect page views from more than 250 million monthly visitors worldwide. Their film’s director, Mohit Suri, has simultaneously been named the most popular Indian director of the year, marking a rare sweep for a single project.

The rankings, released by IMDb, also coincide with the pair’s earlier recognition as recipients of the IMDb “Breakout Star” STARmeter Award in August—an honour that has historically anticipated major career breakthroughs. This year also marks the launch of IMDb’s first-ever Most Popular Indian Directors list, introduced after the IMDb Industry Report highlighted the growing influence of filmmakers as engines of fandom and creative world-building.

Yaminie Patodia, head of IMDb India, said the new list reflects a shift in audience engagement: “We are introducing our first-ever IMDb Most Popular Indian Directors list alongside our annual Most Popular Indian Stars ranking. Directors are now consistently appearing on our weekly charts, indicating that they are becoming fan favourites as audiences are drawn to world-building and storytelling.”

For Ahaan Panday, who debuts at No. 1, the achievement is both emotional and overwhelming. Calling it a “full circle Paulo Coelho moment”, he credited the people who shaped his first film: “Whatever I did on screen was a reflection of Mohit Suri’s guidance and his genius. I thank Aditya Chopra for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, and Shanoo Sharma for believing in me. This recognition makes me more aware of the responsibility I have towards my craft.” He added that the support he received for Saiyaara is “something I will cherish for a lifetime”.

Aneet Padda, who ranks No. 2, described the honour as “still a little unreal”, noting that ‘Saiyaara’ fundamentally transformed her life. She said, “To know that people across countries and languages connected with my work means more than I can explain. Mohit Suri saw something in me before I saw it in myself, and the faith in his eyes gave me courage.” She thanked Aditya Chopra, Shanoo Sharma, and the film’s team for shaping her journey, adding that the IMDb recognition serves as “a gentle push toward everything I want to grow into”.

This year’s Most Popular Indian Stars list also features Aamir Khan (No. 3), Ishaan Khatter (No. 4), Lakshya (No. 5) and Rashmika Mandanna (No. 6), whose diverse slate of releases across Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil kept her consistently in viewer demand. Triptii Dimri (No. 8) and Ishaan Khatter are the only two names who return from last year’s list.

On the directors’ side, Mohit Suri leads, followed by Aryan Khan—whose directorial debut The Ba**ds of Bollywood* earned him a place as the youngest filmmaker on the list and the only series creator among the top 10. Lokesh Kanagaraj, Anurag Kashyap, Prithviraj Sukumaran, R.S. Prasanna, Anurag Basu, Dominic Arun, Laxman Utekar, and Neeraj Ghaywan round out the rankings. Ghaywan’s ‘Homebound’ was recently selected as India’s official entry to the 2026 Academy Awards.

The 2025 lists underline a year shaped by breakout talent, crossover appeal, and expanding global curiosity toward Indian cinema — with ‘Saiyaara’ emerging as the defining catalyst behind the top performers.