The IWMBuzz Digital Awards, known as India’s leading web entertainment honors, has announced its nominations for the seventh annual event, spotlighting the digital industry’s finest talents. Among the notable contenders, Anurag Kashyap nominated for Best Negative Character in Web Series stands out for his intense portrayal of Kazbe in “Bad Cop,” as the awards approach their much-awaited 2025 edition.
Recognizing Excellence Across Web Series Villains
This year, the Dish TV Watcho Presents IWMBuzz Digital Awards continues its tradition of honoring creative brilliance and impactful storytelling within the web entertainment landscape. With the expansion of digital platforms, audiences can now access diverse shows, movies, and original content at their convenience, and the awards serve to celebrate the artists, such as Anurag Kashyap, who make this possible.
Candidates for Most Popular Negative Character on Web Platforms
The nominees in the Most Popular Negative Character In A Web Series (Male/Female) category represent a broad spectrum of remarkable performances:
Chunky Pandey’s depiction of Kareem Kazi in “Griha Laxmi” has won praise for his compelling villainous streak, joined by co-stars Rahul Dev and Hina Khan. Prosenjit Chatterjee’s turn as Barun Roy, a hard-edged politician in “Khakee: The Bengal Chapter,” stood out alongside other notable actors like Jeet, Saswata Chatterjee, Ritwik Bhowmik, Chitrangada Singh, Mahaakshay Chakraborty, and Aadil Zafar Khan.
Rajeev Thakur took a departure from comedy, delivering an intense performance as the Chief hijacker in “IC 814: The Kandhar Hijack,” sharing the spotlight with Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Dia Mirza, and Arvind Swamy. Harsh Chhaya commanded attention in “Undekhi S3,” as the influential Papaji, head of the Atwal family, with Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Surya Sharma, Ankur Rathee, Ayn Zoya, Aanchal Singgh, Shivangi Singh, and Varun Badola forming a strong ensemble.
Avantika Dasani brought drama to “Mithya: The Darker Chapter” as Rhea Rajguru, fueling a sibling rivalry with her on-screen step-sister Juhi, while actors like Huma Qureshi, Parambrata Chatterjee, Rajit Kapur, and Samir Soni played key roles. Anurag Kashyap was recognized for his formidable role as Kazbe in “Bad Cop,” which showcases not just his directing talent but acting strengths as well, with Harleen Sethi and Gulshan Devaiah part of the principal cast.
Other nominees include Javed Jaffrey, who heightened excitement as Yusuf Akhtar in “Taaza Khabar Season 2” with Bhuvan Bam, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Nithya Mathur joining him. Rajat Kapoor took on a mysterious turn in “Khauf” as Hakim, supported by Monika Panwar, Abhishek Chauhan, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Shilpa Shukla, and Chum Darang. Finally, Sanjeeda Shaikh made a powerful comeback as Waheeda in “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” in a cast led by Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha.
Audience Anticipation and Next Steps
With voting drawing to a close soon, excitement builds around who will be crowned the winner in one of the most closely watched categories. The awards offer recognition not just to individual actors like Anurag Kashyap, but also extend as a tribute to writers, directors, and creators contributing to India’s web series boom. Beyond honoring recent series such as “The Kandhar Hijack,” “Heeramandi,” and “Griha Laxmi,” the event also highlights the growing appetite for layered, negative characters within compelling storylines.
Industry watchers anticipate that these nominations will set higher benchmarks for digital performances and open up new avenues for talent. As creators and audiences celebrate diverse content, the recognition afforded by events like the IWMBuzz Digital Awards encourages even bolder storytelling and more unforgettable characters in the years ahead.
