By Kashvi Raj Singh,News18,Sahas Mahapatra

Copyright news18

The year 2025 saw several actors return to television after significant breaks, including Smriti Irani and Sharad Kelkar. While some took breaks for film or politics, others faced health challenges that prompted their departure from daily shows. With evolving industry demands, actors have been returning to the small screen to explore fresh opportunities that connect with audiences.
In this article, we have curated a list of actors who made their comebacks after a long hiatus. Check what kept them off the television world and why they chose to return to the screen now.
Smriti Irani
The actress-turned-politician bid farewell to her TV career in 2010. After 15 years, she returned to the screens with the reboot of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Reflecting on her decision, Smriti told The Hindustan Times, “What drew me in was what Ektaa (R Kapoor, producer) brings to the table. It’s fascinating to reconnect after 15 years and see her journey. I’m proud that we are in the game of telling the world that Indian TV still rocks. If you look back, we actually stood for things which were not a part of popular media and we did it without being preachy.”
Sharad Kelkar
After being off the screens for eight years, Sharad Kelkar is now winning hearts with Tumm Se Tumm Tak. He expresses, “With experience, you begin to view new roles through a different lens. Saying I was away from television is just one way to put it. Film work demands full commitment; you have to be ready at a moment’s notice. That’s one of the main reasons I didn’t take up daily shows. I needed something that would challenge me.”
Vandana Pathak
Another actor who has made a comeback on television screens with Tumm Se Tumm Tak after a six-year hiatus is Vandana Pathak. She describes it as a “carefully considered decision since nothing exciting was being offered to her”. Vandana expresses, “After working for decades and playing an array of roles, you either want a meaty role or one that pays good money. Television has now become repetitive. When we used to shoot weekly, we had time to think deeply about the character and episodes. Now, with daily shows, it’s very challenging; you have to evolve quickly because there’s less time to work on characters.”
Gaurav Chopra
The actor returns to the screen with Pushpa Impossible after a five-year hiatus. Revealing that he only accepts roles that don’t limit his creativity as an actor, he explains, “It wasn’t one of those aggressive professional moves like, ‘No, I’m not going to do television anymore.’ It was more about stepping back. In over two decades of acting, I was being offered the same kind of roles.”
He expresses that he is fortunate that he hasn’t been offered the typical boy-next-door roles. “I decided I only want to pick things that excite me — things I haven’t done before,” he said to the media portal.
Ridhima Pandit
The actress returned to the small screen after a 5-year hiatus with Sony SAB’s Uff Ye Love Hai Muskil. Ridhima will be playing the negative lead in the show. Talking about her return, she said that she never planned to make a comeback. “I was just waiting for a role that would show me in a new light, like Ufff…Yeh Love Hai Mushkil did. I’ve been in this industry for years. If not now, when will I get to choose the parts I play and how the audience sees me?” Ridhima added.
The actress went on to say, “I’ve worked hard to get here, so I wanted to take my time and decide. Waiting for the right part is a personal choice.”