Bollywood is everyone’s favourite whipping toy. As I sat down to compile my list of the 20 Best Bollywood Films of 2025, this was the first thought that flashed through my mind.
When a natural disaster strikes, the internet demands a reaction from Bollywood. If there is communal violence, Bollywood must speak up. Even for the most minor social inconveniences, some people won’t rest until the industry has issued a statement. Why is their reaction so vital?
Why 20 best Bollywood films of 2025, and not 10?
The answer lies in their undeniable relevance. It was, is, and always will be absolute: no matter how much people diss it with labels like “Urduwood.” And as for quality, whether you like it or not, Bollywood currently stands second only to the Malayalam film industry in churning out the nation’s finest cinema. This year was so prolific that I had to double my usual “10 best Bollywood films of 2025” to a “20 best Bollywood films of 2025.” Even then, several worthy films barely missed the cut.
So, here is some tough medicine: Bollywood is better than the logic of its loudest detractors. It is better than the “samosa critics” who trade integrity for star ratings. Most importantly, the industry is better than the desperate version of itself it tries to become whenever it chases “Pan-India” trends. While I have been praying for this ridiculous trend to end, I can finally see it approaching its natural death.
On that optimistic note, here is my list of the 20 Best Bollywood Films of 2025, ranked in reverse order:
20. The Diplomat
John Abraham plays a high-ranking Indian diplomat navigating a tense hostage crisis in Pakistan’s politically charged landscape. Shivam Nair’s film moves away from typical action tropes, focusing instead on the intellectual grit and strategic maneuvers required in international relations. It is a taut, procedural thriller that prioritizes dialogue and tension over spectacle, and the actors and the technique are unanimously solid.
19. Agra
At number 19 on the list of the best Bollywood films of 2025 is the controversial Agra, in which Kanu Behl crafts a visceral study of sexual repression and the desperate war for physical space within a crumbling family home. The house itself acts as a character, suffocating its inhabitants until their internal lives begin to rot. Priyanka Bose and Mohit Agarwal anchor this unsettling chronicle of suburban Indian life.
18. The Mehta Boys
Boman Irani’s directorial debut follows a father and son who are forced to spend 48 hours together in Mumbai despite years of estrangement. What begins as a comedic clash of stubborn personalities evolves into a heartfelt exploration of grief and architectural legacy. Avinash Tiwary delivers a nuanced performance as the workaholic son seeking his father’s elusive approval.
17. Metro… In Dino
The opening Netflix logo makes one wonder how hard Anurag Basu must have worked to shake off the “OTT film” label. He shows us that while platforms may have shifted, from chat rooms to dating apps or from TV to streaming, our hearts still ache the same way. So when we hear “Mera dil bhi dil hi hai na,” it lingers just like “Dil to aakhir dil hai na” did when Rahman sang it back in 1998.
I’m not sure where life or social media will be two decades from now. I don’t know if I’ll still be living in a metro. But I do know I’ll revisit Konkona Sensharma’s family outburst and find something new in it every time. Because some things in life are for keeps, and that holds for Basu’s taste in music, the beats of a relationship, and the grammar of longing. Metro… In Dino constantly reminds us of that.
16. Kaisi Ye Paheli
When Kaisi Ye Paheli abruptly arrives at its big reveal, it attempts to comment on the human psyche. The payoff is largely satisfying, though one misses a narrative bridge between the preceding events and the final disclosure. What stays with you is the film’s minimalism and quietude. While the investigation itself alternates between engaging and flat, the film earns points for its human politics and gaze. In some ways, it becomes an antithesis to how relationships are portrayed in popular cinema.
15. Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders
Honey Trehan’s commitment to specificity is admirable, even as it makes the franchise ambitions feel risky. How many wealthy families can be massacred before the formula begins to strain credibility, and how many such cases can conveniently land in Jatil’s lap? Still, Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders remains thematically sincere, although not especially daring. Somehow, by the end, I felt little sympathy for the victims. Instead, I found myself craving a future where coffee-loving Dr Panicker and Sarita Kumari strike up an unexpected bond. Whether Jatil’s investigations can retain my interest beyond this chapter remains to be seen.
14. Stolen
In the 14th spot among the best Bollywood films of 2025 is director Karan Tejpal’s Stolen. A harrowing thriller that follows two brothers from vastly different backgrounds as they are drawn into a desperate search for a missing baby at a railway station. The film uses a relentless, real-time pace to expose the systemic indifference and hidden underbelly of the city. Abhishek Banerjee provides a haunting performance in this grim, high-stakes exploration of class and morality.
13. Inspector Zende
Manoj Bajpayee stars as the real-life Mumbai police officer Madhukar Zende in this stylish Netflix thriller about the pursuit of the “Bikini Killer.” The narrative spans decades, focusing on the psychological cat-and-mouse game between the persistent cop and Jim Sarbh’s charismatic criminal. It is a gritty cop drama that values the “long game” of detective work, and is surprisingly filled with good humour.
12. The Great Shamsuddin Family
The Great Shamsuddin Family may not be entirely free of blemishes, but Anusha Rizvi presents a very fly-on-the-wall account of what happens in an Indian Muslim family. Fifteen minutes in, you can tell it is crafted by someone who understands the space. Rizvi moves beyond aesthetics or token markers of being Muslim, the etiquettes, qawwalis and biryanis. Instead, the film touches upon topics such as Umrah trips, divorce, mehr, triple talaq, generation gaps, intolerance, mob violence and more, making it a worthy entry in the list of the best Bollywood films of 2025.
11. Dhadak 2
Shazia Iqbal’s film allows for multiple interpretations. Some may mistake caste violence for communal or class issues. While the film simplifies realities for clarity, some parts feel a bit too softened. Perhaps the censor board’s hand softened the message. But what more can we expect in a country where the privileged deny that caste exists? Visit a government office and look at the nameplates. You would spot a Tripathi, a Trivedi, and a Chaturvedi. That’s not inherently wrong, until you ask: where are the others?
So, Dhadak 2 won’t cause a revolution, but it does more than just scratch the surface. It reminds us that caste isn’t a niche or distant concern. It’s woven into the way life operates in Indian society. Dalits are rarely allowed pride, let alone autonomy.
10. Jolly LLB 3
The conscience and heart of Subhash Kapoor’s film is Janki (Seema Biswas), whose quietude and powerful final scene can make your eyes well up. Through her, Jolly LLB 3 salutes the farmer community, now infamous for deaths by suicide. In an era where a politician publicly calls a farmer a terrorist (and nobody reacts), this conversation and identity-seeking feel essential. As the film ends with its intended message, I thought we must thank the farmer who harvested what we eat each day – the ones whose permanent tans will never be undone by SPF 50, and whose loss-making sales still yield a tasty dish in your kitchen.
Saba Azad portrays the early years of a legendary Kashmiri singer who broke social barriers to become the first female voice at Radio Kashmir. The film is a lush, musical biopic that captures the “soul” of the valley through its folk traditions and political shifts in the 1950s. It is a story of quiet defiance, showing how an artist’s voice can become a symbol of cultural resilience. Danish Renzu’s film, this way, is a deserving entrant into the list of the best Bollywood films of 2025.
8. Mrs
At the number 8 spot on the list of the best Bollywood films of 2025 is Arati Kadav’s disturbing domestic drama. A searing remake of The Great Indian Kitchen, Sanya Malhotra plays a woman whose identity is slowly buried under the ritualistic drudgery of her new home. The film focuses on the sensory details of kitchen labor to illustrate the systemic nature of domestic patriarchy. Malhotra’s performance is a masterclass in internalised rage, leading to a powerful reclamation of her own life.
7. Saiyaara
With Saiyaara, Mohit Suri proves he still knows the pulse of a generation. My prime takeaway from the film is that times evolve, but our emotional make-up will always remain the same. In that sense, in a country where every young heart wants to be seen, Suri becomes a sounding board. Let the industry pundits and delusional stars keep guessing how a newcomer-driven film became a phenomenon. Meanwhile, the public will be out there — aching, smiling, and softly singing the title track as they exit the theatre. It offers a wonderful and timely reminder that Bollywood romance can still feel visceral — and if Saiyaara is any indication, audiences are ready for more.
6. Dhurandhar
Dhurandhar’s historical fiction template is a content goldmine for commercial cinema in today’s political scenario. The horror of 26/11 is etched into India’s collective memory, not as war or disaster but as something brutally deliberate. In one of the film’s strongest moments, Hamza watches the live coverage while those around him celebrate. He stands frozen, sweat rolling down his face, reflecting the instinctive anguish of someone raised on’Jana Gana Mana’ and the pride of the Indian tri-colour.
Dhurandhar often feels like a mini–Vishal Bhardwaj universe inhabited by characters with the cinematic DNA of those in Ram Gopal Varma’s classics. Its notable exposition and meticulous detailing may contribute to the film’s considerable length. Still, for those of us who binge an entire season of a series in one sitting, it is an effortless ride.
5. Haq
Suparn S Varma’s film opens with a long disclaimer, read word for word, revealing that it’s inspired by true events. The film carefully phrases and paraphrases the idea that it is a divorced woman’s right to seek maintenance, as if determined to make sure its message reaches the right ears. The climactic courtroom sequence, while extremely effective in conveying its message, lacks any exchanges, making us wonder if the characters were exhausted from their relentless war of words.
That said, even as the film takes such safe narrative choices, the director’s conviction shines through, carrying forward a feminist discourse once ignited by films like Lipstick Under My Burkha, Pink, Mrs, and Thappad. A relatively modest film in scale, Haq carries a queen-sized heart with pride into a list of the best Bollywood films of 2025.
4. Jugnuma
Earning its richly deserved high spot amongst the best Bollywood films of 2025 is Jugnuma. The most alluring aspect of Raam Reddy’s film, indeed, is the element of magic realism. India’s folklore is rich with stories that chronicle celestial beings, and it is human to attribute mystic incidents to the presence of such creatures. Like many late-night ghost stories shared by a fireplace, Jugnuma is one that underprivileged workers would narrate with wonder, “Once upon a time, there was a family in an orchard…”
It is the understanding of the syntax of Bollywood and the various interpretations of its target audience that amused me the most in Superboys of Malegaon. The industry is known for its musical numbers, showy action scenes, and heartbreaking melodrama. Yet, we often overlook the common thread that binds them all — emotions. Whether it is a lover traveling across continents to win over his beloved (and her father’s approval) or a shoeshiner child refusing to pick up coins thrown at him, Bollywood cinema is designed to evoke emotions.
In Reema Kagti’s film, too, it is the emotional pay-offs that work. In a story that spends a good part of its runtime following Malegaon’s youth as they film their version of Sholay, every character eventually gets their moment of emotional closure.
In what is one of the most thought-provoking films from Hindi cinema in recent years, Humans in the Loop made me reflect on a range of questions and ideas. I could conclude that no matter how much technology evolves, human relationships follow the same grammar. There will always be an active connection between living beings. As for AI and everything else that might follow, the conversation should intensify only when we begin to eat it, wear it, or live inside it.
1. Homebound
It is impossible to categorize Neeraj Ghaywan’s artistry. Is Homebound one of those artsy films meant only for festival audiences? Shyam Benegal and Mrinal Sen have made films with a similar DNA, so what do we make of that? It is funded by one of Bollywood’s glitziest houses, Dharma Productions, though by the wing Somen Mishra looks after. Is it commercial enough for you? It stars social media pin-ups Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor, who do not flaunt their chiselled bodies. Is face value still a thing in Bollywood?
And yet, Homebound is not boring, even without songs. It makes you question your idea of patriotism and identity. who listens and does nothing. Homebound is for you, for your silence, and for millions who must have a place in mainstream Indian cinema. Neeraj Ghaywan’s film is right at the top of the best Bollywood films of 2025.
Special Mentions: Saali Mohabbat, Ghich Pich
Major disappointments: Sitaare Zameen Par, Sister Midnight, Phule
Moderate disappointments: Nishaanchi, Nishaanchi 2
LOVED MY LIST OF THE BEST BOLLYWOOD FILMS OF 2025? YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2024
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2023
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2022
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2021
30 Incredible Films from 2020 That Must Not Be Missed
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2019
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2018
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2017
The 10 Best Bollywood Films of 2016
