The year 2025 has been filled with some big surprises and unexpected turns, but two directors have seen such drastic shifts in their careers that it might be the biggest shock of the year, one that no one saw coming from miles away.
One of the directors, fans had the highest expectations from this year was Lokesh Kanagaraj. After hit films like Kaithi, Vikram, Leo, and Master, fans believed he was unbeatable. His films were all the rage, and every major star wanted to collaborate with him.
He brought strong stories, unique screenplay, memorable characters, his distinct vision, and a personal touch to his films, while also celebrating his stars. Fans were hoping to see the same magic again this year.
However, with Coolie, Lokesh ended up disappointing fans immensely.
While the film still managed decent box office collections, fans pointed out that his iconic touch was missing. Many felt it was a weak film with too many plot holes.
Given the high expectations he had set for himself, Coolie didn’t come close to what fans hoped he would deliver, and as a result, the director was heavily trolled. Many couldn’t even believe this illogical script was written by Lokesh Kanagaraj.
According to rumours, Lokesh was supposed to collaborate with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth for his next project as well. However, after Coolie, he allegedly lost that opportunity. He went from being one of the most celebrated filmmakers to one of the most trolled directors of the year. He lost almost everything in 2025.
On the other hand, the director no one saw rising to the top in 2025 was Aditya Dhar.
While most of the audience had their eyes on films like War 2, Dhurandhar slowly gained attention, and when it finally released, it exceeded expectations. The film turned out to be a historic success, making Aditya Dhar the most celebrated filmmaker of the year.
No one expected him to deliver such a powerful film, as it transformed him from an “okay” filmmaker into one of the top directors in the industry with just one project. No other director in recent times has made such an impact, even stronger than Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Now the biggest of stars have become eager to work with him.
It’s fascinating how a single film can completely change a filmmaker’s trajectory, destroying the reputation of one while instantly elevating another to the top.
