As the release date of their upcoming Netflix series, “The Royals,” draws near, Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar have been actively engaging in conversations about their first collaboration and the inevitable presence of online scrutiny. The romantic comedy-drama, set to premiere on May 9th, 2025, marks a fresh pairing and a unique storyline that blends the world of royalty with the ambitions of a self-made entrepreneur.
In recent interviews, both actors have expressed their excitement about working together and the refreshing narrative of “The Royals.” Bhumi Pednekar, who plays the role of Sophia Shekhar, a determined CEO, revealed that this project allowed her to experiment with her on-screen look like never before. “It was one of the first times that I got to experiment with my wardrobe. There were people who actually cared about the way I was looking on screen. That has never happened,” she shared, expressing gratitude for the teams that worked on her appearance in the series. She also highlighted the refreshing aspect of playing a character close to her real self, stating, “I’ve never felt this confident opening up to a character, which in turn opens up to the audience. I loved playing Sophia.”
Ishaan Khatter, portraying the charming yet perhaps frustrating Maharaja Aviraaj Singh, echoed the sentiment of exploring new territory with “The Royals.” He described working with Bhumi as a “delightful experience,” emphasizing the dynamic between their characters. “I don’t think either of us has had the chance to do something like this in our careers yet. We’ve got eight episodes to flesh it out. The fun part is that it wasn’t just all lovey-dovey. There was a cat-and-dog dynamic, with all the spewing of hate and egos coming in,” Ishaan explained. He also playfully addressed the buzz around his shirtless appearance in the series, clarifying to Bollywood Hungama, “If that was all there was to it, I would’ve probably run away in fear in a completely different direction. But there’s so much more to this character—I think he’s really funny. It was genuinely fun playing him.” Bhumi playfully added to this, praising Ishaan’s performance beyond the physicality, “Once people watch the show, they’ll realise this [shirtless appearance] is just the marination—the real meat is his perfection. The tadka is great, but the real flavour lies in his performance.”
However, in the age of social media, any new project, especially one with an unconventional pairing, often faces online scrutiny. Addressing the topic of trolling, Bhumi Pednekar offered a matter-of-fact perspective. “Today, trolling has become people’s pastime. It doesn’t matter, though,” she stated. Ishaan Khatter supported this view, emphasizing their focus on the project itself. “It was a choice between not doing this if we paid attention to it, or just going ahead. And since we loved the script so much, everything else didn’t matter.”
Both actors acknowledged the initial surprise some viewers might have had regarding their pairing in “The Royals.” Bhumi mentioned her initial thoughts were “interesting” when the casting was announced. However, with the release of the trailer, many have lauded their on-screen chemistry. Ishaan pointed out that the “love-hate equation” between their characters allowed them creative freedom in their performances.
“The Royals” presents a narrative where the financially struggling royal family of Morpur strikes a deal with Sophia, a driven CEO, to transform their palace into a boutique heritage stay. The clash of their worlds – tradition versus modernity, royalty versus the corporate world – forms the crux of the story, promising a blend of romance, comedy, and drama. The series boasts an ensemble cast including veteran actress Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Dino Morea, Milind Soman, and Chunky Panday, among others.
As Ishaan Khatter embarks on this romantic comedy venture after being part of intense dramas and thrillers like “Beyond the Clouds” and “Pippa,” Bhumi Pednekar marks her web series debut with “The Royals,” adding a new dimension to her diverse filmography. Their collaboration in “The Royals” is anticipated to bring a fresh and engaging dynamic to the screen, and their grounded approach to online feedback suggests a focus on delivering a compelling story to the audience.
Beyond “The Royals,” both actors have their individual paths ahead. Bhumi was recently seen in “Mere Husband Ki Biwi” and continues to explore diverse roles, while Ishaan is reportedly involved in an upcoming feature film with a director he has long admired. However, for now, all eyes are on the royal romance unfolding on Netflix, with Ishaan and Bhumi hoping that their fresh pairing and the unique storyline will resonate with viewers, irrespective of the noise on social media.