Meet the New Wave – Here are the Fresh Faces to Watch Out for in 2026
As Bollywood turns the page on another year, a new wave of talent is beginning to define what the industry might look like next. These actors have already started leaving impressions, in films, series, or through roles that showed their potential and 2026 could be their breakout moment.
*Sahher Bambba*
Sahher has built up a varied résumé. She worked in the historical series The Empire and the OTT adaptation Dil Bekaraar. Her biggest role so far is in Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Bads of Bollywood, a Netflix series about life inside the Hindi film world, where she stars alongside Lakshya Lalwani and others. The series dropped in 2025 and gave her a central narrative arc that many feel could be a springboard to bigger film projects.
*Aneet Padda*
Aneet captured attention with her tender performance as the female lead in Saiyaara (2025), opposite Ahaan Panday, a romantic drama helmed by Mohit Suri under the Yash Raj Films banner that earned praise from industry veterans. Looking ahead, she’s set to headline Shakti Shalini (2026), a horror-comedy from the Maddock Universe franchise where she plays the titular role.
*Simar Bhatia*
Simar is an emerging name with buzz, particularly for roles that lean into roles with gravitas. In Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis, she holds her own opposite heavyweights. conversations place her among the fresh faces generating interest for 2026 projects across platforms and trade bigwigs are certain she is one to look out for!
*Ahaan Panday*
Ahaan’s official Bollywood launch came with Saiyaara (2025), where he played the romantic lead. The film’s audience response have made his performance one of the year’s most talked-about debuts since Hrithik Roshan’s entry in 2000, with big names in the industry publicly praising his work. He headlines Sultan director Ali Abbas Zafar’s next which is an action movie and his fans can’t wait to see what he has in store next.
*Pratibha Ranta*
Pratibha earned acclaim in Laapataa Ladies (2023), a comedy-drama that was praised for its heart and performances, helping her stand out among new generation actors. Her career is gaining traction with a slate of upcoming roles: she has been cast in a Dharma Productions project where she stars alongside Konkona SenSharma and she’s apparently branching into different genres and even is the top choice for several notable projects including Naagzilla.
*Vedang Raina*
After a debut that the Tinseltown couldn’t stop talking about, Vedang Raina has a major year lined up in 2026. With a simmering performance in Jigra alongside Alia Bhatt, Vedang headlines Imtiaz Ali’s next alongside Diljit Dosanjh. His chocolate boy looks is an instant draw but beneath all the cutesy smile is a performer who is all-craft and holds the screen like a pro.
