Bollywood watchers are eyeing a fresh crop of Gen-Z actors as the next big names: Ahaan Panday (from Saiyaara), Rasha Thadani (Azaad), Ibrahim Ali Khan (Nadaniyan), among others, are being hailed as 2025’s breakout talents.

Ahaan Panday
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Ahaan Panday was born on 23 December 1997 in Mumbai. He comes from a film family: his uncle is Chunky Panday, an actor, and his cousin is Ananya Panday.
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Before acting, he worked as an assistant director on films-for example, “Rock On 2” in 2016-which gave him some experience in filmmaking behind the scenes.
Wikipedia

His first lead acting role came in 2025 with the film Saiyaara, which is a romantic-musical drama produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF) and directed by Mohit Suri.
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In “Saiyaara”, he starred opposite newcomer Aneet Padda. The film — its story, music, and performances — got positive reviews.

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It proved to be a big commercial hit in 2025.
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In short, Ahaan is not just another star-kid leveraging lineage; he already tried his hand at the camera, and his first lead‐role has been critically and box-officed validated. That makes his entry more substantial than a typical “star-kid launch.”

Rasha Thadani
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She is the daughter of veteran actress Raveena Tandon and producer Anil Thadani.
The Economic Times

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Her first film was Azaad, a period-drama that came in 2025, where she featured alongside Aaman Devgan, the nephew of Ajay Devgn.

Times of India
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Even though the movie as a whole received mixed or modest reception, Rasha stood out; her screen presence, expressive acting, and charm drew attention.
The Times of India

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It was this clip featuring her in a song/dance number, apparently from “Azaad”, that went viral online; it helped her gain rapid popularity among the youth.

Times of India
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Thus, Rasha’s entrance follows the trend of “star-kids from known film families entering with fanfare,” but at the same time proves herself to have given enough to be spoken about on her own merit — at least in the early buzz.
Ibrahim Ali Khan

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He is the son of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, thus being one of Bollywood’s famous film families, the Pataudi-Ali Khan lineage.

Wikipedia

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He made his adult lead-role debut in the 2025 film Nadaaniyan, which was released over-the-top via Netflix.
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In “Nadaaniyan,” he played the role of a “boy-next-door” kind of character — a college romance/coming-of-age vibe. For a while, it seemed like he might capture the youth’s attention.
The Times of India

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But it did not fare well either critically or commercially. Reviews were scathing about the story and performances, with many finding his debut lacking in depth and that the lead actors struggled to relate with the camera.
Wikipedia
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Wikipedia

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So, while Ibrahim had the advantage of lineage and initial hype, the early outcome has been rough. The enthusiastic buzz got a reality check, but given his background, many still consider him a “work in progress” rather than a write-off.

What makes 2025’s “Gen-Z cohort” special – and why these three stand out.
Mix of legacy + readiness: All three have some connection with established film-families, or at least, in Ahaan’s case, have lived-interest in cinema as an assistant director. That gives them an inside track. But more importantly, several of them, especially Ahaan and Rasha, seem to have taken their debut seriously, not just as a “nepo-launch” but an opportunity to prove talent.
Audience & globalisation era: We are in an era of social media, steaming media, and younger audiences. A viral clip, catchy soundtrack, or relatable “Gen-Z energy” does have the tendency to amplify a debut far quicker than earlier. Take for example Rasha’s viral dance/clip from “Azaad,” or Ahaan’s fan-following before and after “Saiyaara.”
Hindustan Times

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The Times of India
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Times of India

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Newer narrative & genres: Bollywood in 2025 is more open to “youth-centered,” coming-of-age, romance, and streaming film formats. This gives newcomers more room to experiment, even if their first film doesn’t succeed wildly.
The spotlight on flaws as well as promise continues- the backlash against “nepo-kids”, unrealistic expectations, criticism for weak scripts or over-hyped launches. In fact, for someone like Ibrahim, negative response to “Nadaaniyan” underlines the fact that lineage does not guarantee acceptance.
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MensXP
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Due to this combination of high expectations, real talent, greater visibility, and greater scrutiny, 2025 seems like a point of inflection-a possible generational shift in Bollywood, where even star-kids will have to have more than legacy to survive and make it.
Where they stand now (end of 2025) — the good, the uncertain, and what’s next

What’s working

Ahaan Panday: His debut “Saiyaara” not only garnered critical acclaim but also fared well at the box office; his “social-media-to-silver-screen” trajectory paid off. He’s being seen now as a credible new romantic lead.

Wikipedia

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Mid-day

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Rasha Thadani: Despite the average reception of “Azaad”, her individual performance and charisma on screen created enough ripples to present her with an opportunity to carve her identity, particularly amongst the young generation of viewers and fans.

The Times of India

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Hindustan Times

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Ibrahim Ali Khan: While his first film stumbled upon release, he nonetheless remains in the spotlight, and media chatter suggests that he is still very much a part of upcoming projects, giving him a chance for redemption and growth. Wikipedia +2 IMDb +2 ⚠️ What’s uncertain / Challenges ahead Risk of “nepo-kid backlash”: The criticism of star-kids getting easy access despite lack of acting chops remains a big hurdle. More so for someone like Ibrahim — the negative reception of “Nadaaniyan” hurt his initial momentum. Wikipedia +2 MensXP +2 Inconsistent film quality & choices: A powerful debut doesn’t promise a lifelong career. Sustaining the attention now requires picks (scripts & roles) which aren’t dependent on legacy or looks but real talent and depth. High expectations from fans + media: For Ahaan and Rasha in particular, the “buzz and hype” build-up means people will be watching closely. That pressure is a motivator and a trap — especially if their next films don’t perform well. Shifting audience preference: Bollywood is changing-the streaming platforms, the international exposure, the different kinds of content. Success is likely to demand versatility, not just the “romcom/romantic-lead” squeefest. They will have to change accordingly. What this “new generation” represents for Bollywood — and what to watch. A generational shift-2025’s debutants reflect a younger generation born in late 1990s/early 2000s, more comfortable with digital-native fame, social media, and global exposure. Their success or failure might redefine what it means to be a “Bollywood hero/heroine.” Rise of hybrid careers: some, like Ahaan, come not just as actors, but with experience behind the camera. That could mean more actor-directors, actor-producers, or people with wider knowledge of filmmaking getting lead roles. More space for new content & genres: With the rising demand from young people for new stories, less melodrama, and new voices, the presence of fresh faces might encourage filmmakers to experiment beyond traditional formulas. Debate on merit vs nepotism will continue-but may evolve-With star-kids facing critical scrutiny but also pushing themselves to deliver, the “nepo-kid” debate may shift from just lineage to “who survives challenges.” The ones who deliver consistently may silence critics. Diversity in career graphs-not everyone would be a superstar lead, niches would be found by some, OTT-films, digital series, indie films-pending others might turn behind the camera-is an indication of an industry that would be more fragmented but perhaps merit-oriented. MY TAKE What to expect – and whom to watch closely As far as my bet goes, on who amongst these new-comers is most likely to shine and last longer, I’d keep a keen eye out for Ahaan Panday — because his debut feels well-planned: good film, good audience reception, and he actually worked behind the camera too. Rasha Thadani also seems pretty promising — if she picks her next scripts wisely, she might evolve into a relatable, youth favourite actress rather than just a star-kid. For Ibrahim Ali Khan, the road ahead seems even more uncertain. “Nadaaniyan” certainly did him no favors. If he takes the criticism as a wake-up call, he still has the legacy and visibility that could support a resurgence with better script choices- perhaps more serious or challenging roles. For Bollywood at large, 2025 could very well signal the coming of a real “Gen-Z wave”-gritty or glamorous, fresh or flawed, but real and growing fast.