‘Tis the holiday season y’all! You know, holidays can be a rollercoaster – all fun and games until that loneliness hits you square in the feels. So, what's a lone wolf like me to do? Cue the rom-com marathon with a piping hot cup of chocolate and watch my favourite shows with favourite actors on screen (are you listening, Darren Barnet aka Paxton Hall Yoshida).

Now, we all have our go-to celeb crushes, right? I remember Imran Khan from 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na' had me going gaga a decade ago – those were simpler times. Silly and fun, that's how crushes should be. But let's talk about the ones that make you go thirsty, like Aditya Roy Kapoor (sorry, I know he's the obvious choice, but can we blame you?)

These crushes are the ones that have you daydreaming about cozying up with them in some alternate universe. It's the kind of crush that makes you feel all giddy from the inside when you think about them, who will feature on the top of your freebie list (from FRIENDS).

Above everything, these might be the crushes that can make you reach out for your Salty or Taco. You feel me?

Forget about Netflix and chill; we're on a whole new level of thirst here. In a world where memes are our daily bread and swiping right is practically a reflex, we've compiled the ultimate list of celeb crushes that have us millennials and Gen Z kids feeling like we just walked through a desert. I spoke to a couple of folks who revealed who is their hot celeb crush and why. Stay hydrated because this list is about to leave you parched.

Chetna, 24, Marketing Professional

For me, it is Regé-Jean Page (with multiple hot face emojis) from Bridgerton. He lowkey reminds me of my first teenage crush, but also how HAWT he is!! First, the character he played was very self-assured and direct. He didn’t know how to beat around the bush. I think that is very sexy about guys. Also, there is a scene when he is verbally teaching the innocent Daphne (played by Phoebe Dynevor) to touch herself. OMG, I just melted right there. His body, his gaze, his self-assurance, everything about him is super attractive and I can’t stop thirsting over him. All the smoky scenes of her and Daphne in the season were all things sassy and spicy. Totally droolworthy!!

Drishti, 27, Designer

I keep seeing these ‘Kukkad Kamaal Ka’ reels on Instagram and they have a new face - Saif Junior aka Ibrahim Ali Khan, and rightly so. His smile! First and foremost, it is so attractive. Also how he carries himself! There is a certain grace. Visually, I feel he belongs to the ‘men written by women’ genre. I feel the same about Saif senior as well, so he looks like an extension to the soft charm that Saif embodies. Recently some of his reels got viral on Instagram where he was seen playing football, and damn, the guy was looking smashing hot.

 

I can't wait to see more of him on the silver screen if he ever choses to go down that path, but till then I'm very happy with all the Kukkad Kamaal Da reels.

Anirudh, 24, Techie

Sobhita Dhulipala, oh boy! This woman's got that X-factor cranked up to eleven. It's not just about the looks – it's like she's got this magnetic field of charisma around her. You can't help but be drawn in. Confidence? Check. Grace? Double-check. And let's not even start on those eyes – they're practically a code for irresistible. She embodies Indian beauty for me. I have been her fan since Raman Raghav 2.0 days, and she took the bar high with her performance in Made in Heaven.

 

There's this vibe about her, you know? Like she's got this secret recipe for turning heads and leaving jaws on the floor. She owns her space with that perfect blend of elegance and a hint of 'oomph.' Man, she is the mic drop of hotness and I can't keep calm whenever I see her on my feed.

Trisha, 30, Engineer

Ever since the Zindagi Gulzar Hai days, Fawad Khan had me swooning. He's the flawless cocktail of sexiness and charisma. The man's gaze could slay with charm alone, my god. And contrary to popular belief, it's not just his looks; it's also his demeanour and the suave way he articulates. Some of my days are basically a scavenger hunt for his interviews on YouTube or the latest photos on his Instagram fan pages to indulge in. Sonam Kapoor, you lucky one. I mean, who wouldn't be envious of her playing his love interest in Khoobsurat? Not that I had a shot, but damn! The man who single-handedly schooled Indian women in the art of thirst. Don't think Indian women were so open about expressing who they find hot, specially on digital public platforms.

Forgive me if I over exaggerate, but I think after Shah Rukh, Fawad was someone who took all Indian women by a storm. His looks, his eyes, his voice, uff! We had really been missing the good-old, handsome boys in Hindi cinema.

Zendaya's got me questioning all my life choices. Geez, when I look at her, I question my sexuality. And it's not just because she's drop-dead gorgeous (which, let's be real, she totally is). It's like, have you seen her effortlessly slaying the red carpet? It's like she's not even trying, and I'm over here struggling to match my socks.

And her acting game? It's not fair to the rest of us mere mortals. I mean, I can barely fake enthusiasm during a Zoom meeting, and she's out there delivering Oscar-worthy performances like it's just another Tuesday. The woman got this mesmerising aura that makes you wonder if you're walking on the same earth. I also like the goofy, cool gal vibe she has, but at the same time can appear very mature of her age. I'm pretty sure if I ever met her, I'd forget my own name. So, yeah, Zendaya, if you're listening, you're causing a serious identity crisis here.

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