The Royals' song launch event cancelled following Operation Sindoor on Pakistan’s terror camps

(From left) Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar in The Royals

In a decisive move, Netflix India, on May 7, called off the music launch of its upcoming series, The Royals. The cancellation came after India's military launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror camps in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement, the government said that its military had
targeted "terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from where attacks against India have been planned and directed". This comes as a response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam.

The music launch of the Zeenat Aman, Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter-starrer was scheduled to take place at a Juhu venue yesterday. The event was to be hosted by singer and composer duo Ruuh and Joh, with performances by Neeti Mohan, Sukriti Kakar, Jubin Nautiyal, and Jonita Gandhi, among others. Invitations had been sent out, and preparations were on in full swing before the decision to cancel was made Wednesday noon.

Zeenat Aman

Sources within the production team confirm that the top bosses at Netflix India deemed it "insensitive" to host a celebratory event at a time when the nation is witnessing escalating conflict at the border, and emotions are running high in the country. "This isn't the right moment for glamour and red carpets. The optics of hosting a launch while the country is bracing for developments on the frontlines didn't sit right with the team," said a source. While the series will drop online as scheduled on May 9, all promotional activities have been paused until further notice.