One thing that has become very clear, looking back at Telugu cinema in 2025, is that actresses are no longer supporting characters of the story; they are the story. These days, there are just so many amazing women in the industry, and they are any number of things: blockbuster one week, quietly redefining the essence of what a leading lady is the next. Either way, it has been a wonderful year for women in terms of assets.
First, Rashmika Mandanna. Still riding high with work in so many languages, she has not taken a moment to rest. Rarely do you find actors who can do emotional drama one week, and mass entertainment the following week. She is confident, expressive, and full of energy; the audience simply loves her-witness the fact of her being cast everywhere, these days.
Sreeleela is another rolling on the crest of the fame wave right now. Young; very dynamic on-screen; with loads of charm and intensity, especially in romance action stuff; has seen the highs ride of a few big films so far in 2025, and thus, she’s fast becoming one of the most visible and bankable young stars here in Tollywood.
Then there’s Mrunal Thakur, who carved a niche in Telugu films post her Bollywood foray. She is an understated, yet strong performer, giving preference to those projects that do give her the opportunity to perform. It is refreshing to see someone like her bring in such energies into the industry.
Pooja Hegde; once again, her name shines bright. Now it seems she has become very selective with her work. This year, she has been very keen on picking roles that are less about glam and more about substance-and honestly, she is nailing it; her persona on-screen is not fading even a bit.
You cannot get a word in regarding the Telugu actress without a mention of Sai Pallavi. She is a world within herself. No frills; no filters. Each role is full of emotions and pure honesty. Her films aren’t many per year, but when she does grace the screens, you know it’s worth a watch.
Moving on to Anupama Parameswaran, Nabha Natesh, and Ketika Sharma, each building a strong career on their own trajectory. They are not all clamoring after the same types of roles. And therein lies the joy of seeing where that takes their careers.
To sum up, 2025 has been an exciting year for Telugu cinema, especially for women who are at the helm. No longer do they fit into the script-they own them. That shift is one of the most beautiful things happening in the industry today.
