As
we
look
back
at
2025,
Netflix
India
has
been
a
launchpad
for
extraordinary
new
talent,
offering
them
a
global
stage
to
showcase
their
craft.
From
producers-turned-filmmakers
to
star
kids
choosing
the
director’s
chair
over
the
spotlight,
this
year
witnessed
a
remarkable
wave
of
debut
talent
that
redefined
storytelling
across
genres.
These
five
visionaries
didn’t
just
make
their
Netflix
debut-they
announced
their
arrival
with
conviction,
creativity,
and
an
unmistakable
stamp
of
originality.
Here’s
to
celebrating
the
fresh
voices
that
made
2025
unforgettable.
1.
S.
Sashikanth
–
From
Producer
to
Director
with
TEST
Known
for
producing
acclaimed
films
under
his
banner
of
YNOT
Studios,
like
Tamizh
Padam,
Kaadhalil
Sodhappuvadhu
Yeppadi,
Kaaviya
Thalaivan,
Irudhi
Suttru,
and
Vikram
Vedha,
Producer
S.
Sashikanth
finally
stepped
into
the
director’s
chair
with
the
Tamil
film
TEST,
marking
his
directorial
debut.
Starring
R.
Madhavan,
Nayanthara,
Siddharth,
and
Meera
Jasmine,
TEST
became
a
compelling
sports-psychological
drama
where
three
lives
intertwine,
both
on
and
off
the
cricket
field.
Sashikanth’s
transition
from
producer
to
director
wasn’t
just
about
fulfilling
a
long-held
ambition
but
about
proving
that
great
storytelling
transcends
the
role
you
play
behind
the
camera.
2.
Aryan
Khan
–
Bold,
Self-Aware,
and
Unapologetically
Bollywood
with
The
Ba***ds
of
Bollywood
Aryan
Khan,
son
of
Bollywood
superstar
Shah
Rukh
Khan,
made
his
debut
as
creator
and
director
with
The
Ba*ds
of
Bollywood,
a
seven-episode
series
on
Netflix.
Backed
by
Red
Chillies
Entertainment,
the
series
boasts
an
impressive
ensemble
cast
featuring
Bobby
Deol,
Lakshya,
Sahher
Bambba,
Raghav
Juyal,
Manoj
Pahwa,
Mona
Singh,
Manish
Chaudhari,
Anya
Singh,
among
others,
with
cameos
from
industry
luminaries
including
Shah
Rukh
Khan,
Aamir
Khan,
Salman
Khan,
and
Karan
Johar.
Set
against
the
backdrop
of
the
Hindi
film
industry,
the
series
offers
a
candid,
self-aware
look
at
nepotism,
ambition,
and
betrayal
in
Bollywood,
blending
high-stakes
drama
with
humor.
The
series
instantly
became
an
iconic
pop
culture
moment,
sparking
buzz,
conversation,
and
memes,
across
the
country.
The
Ba*ds
of
Bollywood
positioned
Aryan
Khan
as
a
visionary
storyteller
and
showrunner
rather
than
just
another
celebrity
scion,
shifting
the
narrative.
3.
Zahan
Kapoor
–
Carrying
Forward
the
Kapoor
Legacy
with
Black
Warrant
Zahan
Kapoor,
grandson
of
Bollywood
legend
Shashi
Kapoor
and
son
of
Kunal
Kapoor
and
Sheena
Sippy,
made
his
Netflix
debut
with
Black
Warrant.
Directed
by
Vikramaditya
Motwane,
the
crime
drama
thriller
is
based
on
the
2019
non-fiction
book
Black
Warrant:
Confessions
of
a
Tihar
Jailer
by
Sunil
Gupta
and
Sunetra
Choudhury.
Set
in
the
early
1980s
and
covering
events
until
1984,
the
series
follows
rookie
jailer
Sunil
Kumar
Gupta’s
(Played
by
Zahaan
Kapoor)
experiences
at
Delhi’s
Tihar
Jail,
featuring
real-life
criminals
including
Charles
Sobhraj
and
Ranga-Billa.
Zahaan’s
understated
yet
powerful
portrayal
of
a
cop
navigating
moral
dilemmas
in
a
harsh
prison
environment
has
drawn
comparisons
to
his
legendary
grandfather,
marking
a
successful
entry
in
the
film
world
and
proving
that
talent
truly
runs
in
the
family.
4.
Shaktishree
Gopalan
–
From
Playback
Singer
to
Music
Director
with
TEST
Renowned
playback
singer
Shaktishree
Gopalan
made
her
debut
as
a
music
director
with
TEST,
the
same
film
that
marked
S.
Sashikanth’s
directorial
debut.
Oscar-winning
composer
AR
Rahman
announced
her
debut
on
social
media
in
2023,
congratulating
her
on
this
new
chapter.
The
soundtrack
features
six
tracks
blending
hip
hop,
pop,
and
electronic
music
with
orchestral
elements,
including
the
exhilarating
“Arena”
featuring
legendary
rapper
Yogi
B.
Gopalan
drew
from
the
humanity
in
the
lead
characters,
thinking
visually
when
composing
and
pinning
emotions
to
the
music
based
on
TEST’s
thrilling
storyline.
After
more
than
15
years
as
a
celebrated
playback
singer,
Gopalan’s
successful
transition
to
music
direction
marks
an
inspiring
evolution,
proving
that
artistic
boundaries
are
meant
to
be
crossed.
5.
Chinmay
Mandlekar
–
A
Marathi
Icon
Makes
His
Hindi
Directorial
Debut
with
Inspector
Zende
Acclaimed
Marathi
actor
Chinmay
Mandlekar,
known
for
his
portrayal
of
Chhatrapati
Shivaji
Maharaj
in
films
like
Farzand
and
Fatteshikast,
made
his
directorial
debut
with
Inspector
Zende.
The
Hindi-language
comedy
thriller,
which
Mandlekar
also
wrote,
stars
Manoj
Bajpayee
as
Inspector
Madhukar
Zende
and
Jim
Sarbh
as
Carl
Bhojraj,
a
character
inspired
by
notorious
serial
killer
Charles
Sobhraj.
Set
in
the
1970s
and
1980s
Mumbai,
the
film
tells
the
untold
story
of
a
streetwise,
instinct-driven
cop
who
tracked
down
the
elusive
“Swimsuit
Killer”
not
once,
but
twice,
in
an
era
before
CCTV
and
cyber
forensics.
Mandlekar’s
decision
to
infuse
this
gritty
true-crime
story
with
humor
and
nostalgia
sets
it
apart
from
conventional
thrillers,
offering
audiences
a
refreshing
take
on
the
crime-caper
genre
while
celebrating
an
unsung
hero’s
legacy.
Netflix
continues
to
champion
bold
storytelling
and
fresh
perspectives,
and
2025
has
been
a
testament
to
that
commitment.
These
five
debutants
didn’t
just
step
into
new
roles-they
redefined
what
it
means
to
make
your
mark
on
a
global
platform.
From
architecture
to
filmmaking,
singing
to
composing,
acting
to
directing,
their
journeys
remind
us
that
great
art
often
begins
when
talented
individuals
dare
to
explore
uncharted
territories.
Here’s
to
the
creators
who
made
2025
unforgettable.
Stream
all
these
titles
and
more,
only
on
Netflix.