2025 Year Roundup: Rashmika Mandanna takes the Top Spot
on Dec 22, 2025
As the year 2025 is coming to an end, the year end lists about who is on top and who is trailing behind will be interesting to look out. This year, the pan-Indian tag evolved from a buzzword into a baseline requirement for superstardom. We’ve seen established icons reinvent themselves and rising stars seize the throne with sheer box-office volume.
At the heart of it all is Rashmika Mandanna, who has officially moved from being "National Crush" to the "National Powerhouse." Here is a look at how the leading ladies of Indian cinema fared in 2025, ranked by their overall impact.
1. Rashmika Mandanna
Rashmika has had a relentless year, emerging as the most prolific leading lady in the country. Her success is anchored by the historic performance of Chhaava, where her portrayal of Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale earned her massive critical acclaim and a staggering global gross of approximately ₹808 crore. While experimental films like The Girlfriend and Kuberaa saw mixed commercial results, her presence in the blockbuster Thamma and the record-breaking carry-over success of Pushpa 2: The Rule solidified her 40-60% success rate across five diverse releases. She ends the year as the undisputed No. 1 in terms of visibility and cumulative earnings.
2. Kalyani Priyadarshan
Kalyani dominated the South and made significant inroads into the North with the Malayalam superhero hit Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra. Earning over ₹300 crore, she proved that female-led genre films have a massive market. While her other films did not really end up as successes, Lokah put her on the Pan-India Map as a superhero and lady who delivered first ever 300 crore grosser for Malayalam Cinema.
3. Rukmini Vasanth
The biggest surprise of 2025, Rukmini Vasanth, skyrocketed to the top tier thanks to Kantara: Chapter 1. As the leading lady of the year’s highest-grossing Indian film till Dhurandhar final numbers are out, she rocked the nation. Her portrayal of Kanakavathi has made her the most sought-after talent for 2026. She did face a flop at the box office with Sivakarthikeyan's Madharaasi but things are looking up for her as she has NTR-Neel in the mix with many more biggies.
4. Kriti Sanon
Kriti had a creatively fulfilling 2025, topping IMDb's "Most Beautiful" lists while delivering a variety of roles. From the success of Tere Ishk Mein to her ventures into production with Do Patti, she has maintained a steady 75% success rate, balancing commercial appeal with performance-heavy scripts.
5. Alia Bhatt
Though she had fewer releases this year, Alia remains the industry's critical darling. Projects like Jigra and her continued international presence kept her at the top of the "A-list." With last minute postponement of YRF Spy Universe's Alpha and her most awaited reunion with her hubby Ranbir Kapoor in Love and War, make her 2026 more interesting.
6. Shraddha Kapoor
Riding the massive wave of the Stree franchise, Shraddha remains the queen of the youth demographic. While she didn't flood the theaters with releases, her commercial viability is not for test this year. Drug Scandal did loom over her but real impact on her box office impact will only be known next year.
7. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone became a mother and then controversial for her eight hours work only clause. She got ousted from films like Kalki 2 and Spirit, interestingly, both starring Prabhas. She did land an important role in Allu Arjun and Atlee grand fantasy film. She did bring up conversations about the pay-parity and working hours amongst the actors.
8. Aneet Padda
The breakout "Gen Z" star of the year, Aneet's performance in the romantic drama Saiyaara was a sleeper hit, collecting over ₹570 crore worldwide. She exits 2025 with a reputation as the new face of emotional storytelling. She has a huge line-up of films that would release in 2026 and 2027.
9. Triptii Dimri
Continuing her "Animal" momentum, Triptii was seen in several mid-budget hits in 2025. She has become the go-to choice for directors looking for a blend of intensity and glamour, maintaining a solid 50% success rate as she transitions into more solo-lead roles. She is looking at Prabhas starrer Spirit to propel her market further.
10. Sreeleela
The "Dhamaka" girl had a year of immense activity, but unfortunately, not all of it translated into box-office gold. Sreeleela remains one of the most hardworking stars, but 2025 was a year of disappointment at the box office. Her reunion with Nithiin in Robinhood failed to set the box office on fire, and her lead roles in Junior and Mass Jathara struggled to collect decent amounts. She is hopping that 2026 will be better as she is debuting in Hindi and working with Pawan Kalyan in Ustaad Bhagat Singh.
Disclaimer: The news article is written based on information shared by various sources. The organisation is not responsible for the factual nature of them. While we do try to do thorough research at times people could misguide. So, we would encourage viewers' discretion before reacting to them.
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