2025 delivered a clear reminder that screen careers rarely move in straight lines. Across theatres and streaming, several familiar names returned after gaps—some after years away, others after quieter phases—and found a fresh audience connection. Here are a few comebacks that stood out this year.
1) Farhan Akhtar: Back in uniform with 120 Bahadur
Farhan Akhtar returned to acting on the big screen with the war drama 120 Bahadur, released on November 21, 2025, marking his first major acting release since Toofaan (2021). The film crossed the ₹15-crore mark in its early run (reported around the end of week one), and his performance became a talking point even amid a crowded release window.
2) Shilpa Shirodkar: A big-screen return with Jatadhara
Shilpa Shirodkar’s 2025 spotlight was built on a two-step re-entry: renewed public visibility after Bigg Boss 18 (2024) followed by her film appearance in the bilingual supernatural thriller Jatadhara, released on November 7, 2025, in Telugu and Hindi. Positioned as a pan-India title with an ensemble cast, it reframed Shirodkar not as a nostalgia act but as a performer returning to contemporary mainstream packaging.
3) Rajat Bedi: The surprise comeback via Aryan Khan’s Netflix satire
Indo-Canadian actor Rajat Bedi resurfaced in pop-culture conversation with Netflix’s The Ba**ds of Bollywood* (released September 18, 2025), a satirical series created and directed by Aryan Khan. For an actor best remembered for early-2000s antagonist roles, the series became a strong “second-life” moment—helped by the show’s visibility and its industry-insider tone.
4) Ranveer Singh: The blockbuster reset with Dhurandhar
Ranveer Singh’s year turned sharply with Dhurandhar, which released on December 5, 2025, and went on to dominate the box office through December. The film’s scale and sustained run positioned it as a decisive “reset” for Ranveer’s theatrical momentum, with the title repeatedly cited as one of the year’s defining commercial wins.
5) Zeenat Aman: A streaming-era reintroduction with The Royals
Zeenat Aman’s return carried the elegance of a legacy star pivoting to the streaming mainstream. Netflix’s The Royals premiered on May 9, 2025, and was renewed for a second season on May 28, 2025, with Aman’s Maji Sa/Maji Sahiba presence adding gravitas to the show’s contemporary rom-com drama framework.
6) Debina Bonnerjee: TV comeback and reality-show relevance
Debina Bonnerjee returned to television visibility through the celebrity reality format Pati Patni Aur Panga – Jodiyon Ka Reality Check, which premiered on August 2, 2025. She and Gurmeet Choudhary finished as runner-ups, keeping her in weekly conversation and strengthening her connection with family-TV audiences.
The larger picture
Taken together, these comebacks show how the “return” playbook has changed. Some actors re-entered through theatres, others through streaming, and many used reality TV or high-visibility series as the bridge back to relevance. In 2025, a comeback wasn’t about simply reappearing—it was about choosing the right vehicle, platform, and timing.
By – Sonali