Actors Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav have received a major boost in their careers after being honoured with IMDb’s Breakout Star STARmeter Awards. The recognition comes following the success of the crime drama Raakh, which has attracted significant attention from audiences in India and abroad.
The IMDb STARmeter Awards recognise performers who generate exceptional interest among the platform’s global audience. The rankings are based on the activity of IMDb’s more than 250 million monthly visitors, making the award an important indicator of rising popularity in the entertainment industry.
Raakh, inspired by the infamous 1978 Ranga-Billa kidnapping case in New Delhi, has emerged as one of the most talked-about Indian crime dramas of the year. The series currently holds a rating of 7.6 out of 10 on IMDb and has also secured a place on the platform’s list of Most Popular TV Shows. It is presently the only Indian series featured on the list.
In the show, Akash Makhija and Ramandeep Yadav portray the principal antagonists, delivering performances that have sparked strong reactions from viewers. Following the release of the series, Makhija climbed to the top position on IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list, while Yadav secured the fourth spot.
For Makhija, the honour carries special significance. The actor described it as the first award of his 13-year acting journey. He expressed gratitude to IMDb and audiences for recognising his work, noting that the intense audience response to his character reflected the impact of the performance.
Recalling his casting journey, Makhija revealed that landing the role of Babu was far from straightforward. He auditioned alongside several actors and was initially informed that he had not been selected. However, he later received a call for another round of auditions and eventually secured the part. According to him, success in the entertainment industry requires not only talent but also a measure of good fortune.
Ramandeep Yadav also described the recognition as a landmark moment in his career. Calling it his first acting award, he said the achievement felt surreal because it reflected genuine audience appreciation.
The actor shared that while preparing for his role as Rajjo, he studied the behaviour and psychology of serial killers. One aspect that particularly stood out to him was the intensity of their eyes. He attempted to incorporate that unsettling quality into his portrayal to make the character more believable.
Yadav further revealed that the makers of Raakh were careful not to glorify the criminals depicted in the series. Instead, the focus remained on the emotional trauma experienced by the families of the victims. He admitted that reading the script was an emotional experience and that he was moved to tears by the story.
This is only the second occasion on which IMDb has presented STARmeter Awards to co-stars from the same Indian title. The previous recipients were Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda for Saiyaara in 2025.
With Raakh continuing to attract viewers and critical attention, the recognition for Makhija and Yadav highlights the growing impact of their performances and signals a promising future for both actors.
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