New Bollywood Stars to Watch in 2026
A new generation of Bollywood talent is redefining what Indian stardom looks like. These are not star kids riding on family names or Instagram influencers trying their luck — they are working actors who've earned their place through craft, range, and the kind of screen presence that makes directors write roles specifically for them. Here are the ten new Bollywood stars who matter most in 2026.
| # | Name | Breakthrough | Year | Watch On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharvari Wagh | Alpha, Munjya | 2024 | Prime / Netflix |
| 2 | Vedang Raina | The Archies, Jigra | 2023 | Netflix |
| 3 | Mrunal Thakur | Sita Ramam, Hi Nanna | 2022 | Prime |
| 4 | Tripti Dimri | Animal, Vicky Aur Vidya | 2023 | Netflix / Prime |
| 5 | Junaid Khan | Maharaj | 2024 | Netflix |
| 6 | Adivi Sesh | Major, HIT series | 2022 | Prime / Netflix |
| 7 | Vishal Jethwa | Tiger 3, Sector 36 | 2023 | Prime |
| 8 | Shanaya Kapoor | Bedhadak (upcoming) | 2024 | TBA |
| 9 | Wamiqa Gabbi | Jubilee, Crew | 2023 | Prime / Netflix |
| 10 | Aneet Padda | Saiyaara | 2025 | Netflix |
How we ranked these: We weighted critical reception, range across genres, social media momentum, and the quality of upcoming projects. Being a star kid is not a disqualifier — but it's not a free pass either. Everyone here has done the work.
1. Sharvari Wagh
Breakout: Munjya (2024), Alpha (2025) | Backed by: YRF Talent
Sharvari Wagh is arguably the most important new female star in Bollywood right now. She became the first lead of YRF's spy universe outside the Pathaan-Tiger axis when she headlined Alpha (2025) opposite Alia Bhatt — a female-led spy film that proved YRF's biggest franchise could centre women without losing its action credentials.
But Sharvari's commercial triumph came earlier with Munjya (2024), the supernatural comedy-horror in which she was effortlessly charming against a genuinely eccentric premise. What makes her special is tonal range: she can do wry comedy, action physicality, and emotional vulnerability in the same film. With multiple YRF projects in development and a reputation for being ruthlessly professional on set, she's the new female face of mainstream Bollywood.
Watch next: Alpha (Prime Video)
→ Explore Sharvari Wagh on GudVibe
2. Vedang Raina
Breakout: The Archies (2023), Jigra (2024) | Backed by: Excel Entertainment / Dharma
Vedang Raina announced himself in Zoya Akhtar's The Archies (2023) as the strongest performer in an ensemble debut — high praise given he was competing with Suhana Khan and Agastya Nanda. He then followed it immediately with Jigra alongside Alia Bhatt, holding his own against one of Bollywood's most demanding co-stars in a complex, morally textured role.
Raina's gift is intensity without theatrics. He has the quality rare in young Indian male actors of being able to do very little and still hold the camera's complete attention. The projects aligning behind him — Excel Entertainment and Dharma both see a long-term star — suggest his trajectory is not accidental. One of the clearest long-term bets in new Bollywood.
Watch next: Jigra (Netflix)
→ Explore Vedang Raina on GudVibe
3. Mrunal Thakur
Breakout: Sita Ramam (2022), Hi Nanna (2023) | Languages: Hindi, Telugu
Mrunal Thakur started in television, graduated to Hindi films, and then did what almost no Hindi actress does: crossed over to Telugu cinema and became a bona fide star there. Sita Ramam (2022) — a sweeping period romance — made her a Telugu audience favourite overnight. Hi Nanna (2023) with Nani repeated the feat.
What Mrunal offers is emotional transparency on screen: audiences believe her completely, in any language. She's now one of the few actresses capable of drawing audiences in both Hindi and Telugu markets — a genuinely pan-India female star, at a time when the industry is hungry for exactly that. Her upcoming Hindi slate is as strong as her Telugu commitments.
Watch next: Sita Ramam (Prime Video)
4. Tripti Dimri
Breakout: Animal (2023), Laila Majnu (2018) | Backed by: Multiple studios
Tripti Dimri was a critical favourite since Laila Majnu (2018) and Bulbbul (2020), but it was her devastating cameo in Animal (2023) that made mainstream India take notice. In a film full of bravura performances, she was the quiet centre — a woman who loved too much and got destroyed by it.
She's now one of the most in-demand actresses in Bollywood, with a slate that spans genres from Vishal Bhardwaj's O'Romeo (2026) to commercial action films. What separates Tripti from contemporaries is her willingness to choose difficult, unglamorous roles — and her ability to find the humanity in characters who exist purely to be loved or discarded by male protagonists. She consistently makes those characters more than the script intended.
Watch next: Animal (Netflix), Bulbbul (Netflix)
5. Junaid Khan
Breakout: Maharaj (2024) | Backed by: YRF
The son of Aamir Khan made his debut in Maharaj (2024, Netflix) — and immediately distinguished himself from the waves of star-kid debuts by choosing an extremely difficult subject: a 19th-century legal battle against religious exploitation, with a character who needed to be principled without being preachy. He was excellent.
Junaid has none of his father's flamboyance and all of his father's deliberateness. He prepared for the role with characteristic Aamir-level rigour, and it shows: the physicality, the period diction, the emotional restraint are all precisely calibrated. The critical reception was strong enough that major directors immediately entered conversations. His next project will be the true test of whether Maharaj was a one-off or a foundation. Early signs suggest the latter.
Watch next: Maharaj (Netflix)
→ Explore Junaid Khan on GudVibe
6. Adivi Sesh
Breakout: Major (2022), HIT: The First Case | Languages: Telugu, Hindi
Adivi Sesh is the most complete all-round talent on this list — actor, writer, and an executive producer who understands the business as well as the craft. His performance in Major (2022), the biopic of 26/11 martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, was a career-defining act of restraint and emotional power that earned him a new audience across languages.
He wrote Goodachari, the Telugu spy thriller he also starred in, and continues to develop his own projects rather than simply waiting for offers. In an industry where male stars often coast on image rather than craft, Sesh is doing the opposite. His pan-India ambitions are credible because his track record in Telugu is already elite-level. He's the Telugu star most likely to become a mainstream Hindi market draw in the next two years.
Watch next: Major (Netflix / Prime Video)
7. Vishal Jethwa
Breakout: Tiger 3 (2023), Sector 36 (2024) | Backed by: YRF / Netflix
Vishal Jethwa played the villain in Tiger 3 (2023) opposite Salman Khan — and stole the film. In a franchise built around Salman's indestructible persona, Jethwa had the audacity to match him physically and psychologically, creating an antagonist with genuine menace. He followed it with the real-life serial killer drama Sector 36 (Netflix, 2024) alongside Vikrant Massey, where he was even more unsettling.
Jethwa's gift is inhabiting darkness without losing humanity — his villains are recognisably human, which makes them far more frightening than pantomime evil. He's becoming the go-to choice for directors who need a young male antagonist who can keep pace with A-listers. The trajectory from villain to lead is already being written: multiple production houses are developing lead-role projects for him.
Watch next: Sector 36 (Netflix)
8. Wamiqa Gabbi
Breakout: Jubilee (2023), Crew (2024) | Languages: Hindi, Punjabi
Wamiqa Gabbi has been one of the most quietly consistent performers in Indian film and TV for years, working across Punjabi cinema and Hindi OTT before landing two major 2023-24 releases that finally gave her the platform she deserved. In Jubilee (Prime Video, 2023), Vikramaditya Motwane's period drama about Bollywood's golden age, she was luminous — capturing the tragedy of a star who burned too bright.
In the commercial entertainer Crew (2024), she held her own alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu — no mean feat. What's striking about Wamiqa is that she brings the same level of commitment to a streaming prestige drama and a mainstream comedy: the craft is always present. Directors are noticing, and her project slate for 2025-26 reflects it.
Watch next: Jubilee (Prime Video)
9. Shanaya Kapoor
Debut: Bedhadak (upcoming) | Backed by: Dharma Productions
The daughter of Sanjay Kapoor has spent years in Dharma Productions' talent development programme — training in acting, dance, and physical fitness — before her formal debut. Shanaya Kapoor is one of the most prepared debutants Bollywood has seen: she's been on sets, watched productions, and worked with coaches for years before a single frame of her as a lead has been released.
The anticipation around her debut has been carefully managed rather than over-hyped, which is itself a sign of strategic intelligence from her team. Whether the preparation translates to screen presence when it counts is the open question. But the combination of Dharma's backing, years of preparation, and a social media presence that's already large suggests Shanaya is positioned for a sustainable career rather than a flash-in-the-pan debut.
Watch next: Her debut project when it releases
→ Explore Shanaya Kapoor on GudVibe
10. Aneet Padda
Breakout: Saiyaara (2025) | Backed by: YRF
Aneet Padda co-starred with Ahaan Panday in Saiyaara (2025), Mohit Suri's romantic blockbuster that earned ₹300+ crore at the box office. For a debut film with no established stars — both leads were unknowns — this was an extraordinary commercial validation. Padda's chemistry with Panday drove the film's word-of-mouth, and her individual scenes demonstrated an emotional depth that surprised audiences expecting a conventional Suri love story.
What happens next for Padda is the key question. She's been vocal about wanting to choose projects based on character quality rather than commercial formula — a bold stance for someone still building a filmography. YRF's track record with female talent suggests she'll be given the space to develop. One of 2025's most exciting new discoveries.
Watch next: Saiyaara (Netflix)
→ Explore Aneet Padda on GudVibe
The Verdict
The new generation of Bollywood talent is more technically prepared, more strategically managed, and more internationally aware than any previous cohort. Sharvari Wagh and Vedang Raina lead the pack for breadth of appeal. Adivi Sesh is the south-to-north crossover most likely to complete the journey. Watch this space — several of these names will be headlining ₹500 crore films within three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the biggest new Bollywood star in 2026?
By box office and cultural impact, Sharvari Wagh (Alpha, Munjya) and Aneet Padda (Saiyaara) are the biggest new female stars. Among male newcomers, Vedang Raina and Junaid Khan have the strongest critical momentum. IMDb's 2025 Most Popular Stars list placed Ahaan Panday at #1 and Aneet Padda at #2 among Indian stars.
Which new Bollywood actors are not star kids?
Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Wamiqa Gabbi, Tripti Dimri, and Vishal Jethwa all built their careers without film industry family backgrounds. They represent the strongest wave of self-made talent in contemporary Bollywood.
Where can I watch films by new Bollywood stars?
Netflix (Maharaj, The Archies, Sector 36), Prime Video (Jubilee, Sita Ramam, Paatal Lok), and JioHotstar carry the best recent work from this generation. Most YRF films stream on Netflix after theatrical runs.