The Royals review: Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter’s acting chops save this sloppy drama

In Pic: Poster of the Royals

Netflix released its original series, The Royals, starring a talented ensemble cast. This 8-episode romantic drama set in the fictional city of Morpur in Rajasthan offers a very casual take on Indian royalty. It follows the new-age recipe of inclusivity and women empowerment, but falls flat in terms of execution.

What is Netflix's The Royals about?

The Royals follows the life of Bhumi Pednekar, a budding entrepreneur whose aim is to make royalty available for commoners through Royal B&B. She stumbles across Ishaan Khatter, a soon-to-be king, whose family is in debt after losing his father, Milind Soman. The two collaborate under unusual circumstances while suppressing their true feelings for each other. The series has several subplots to keep the viewer engaged, but they seem borrowed to simply extend the runtime.

Powerful performances

The story has a modern twist where the pauper saves the prince. Whoever decided to cast Bhumi and Ishaan together needs a raise. This pair came armed with chemistry that set the screen ablaze. Bhumi nails it this time with her acting prowess. When she cried, I cried because her tale represented every woman who dreams big and wants to make it on her own. Ishaan is a treat to watch. He portrays what it takes to cope with grief, while being marked with one expectation after another for the sake of his public image.

Coming to the supporting cast, Sakshi Tanwar plays the OG mom - but this time she adds a comedic touch and lives by the mantra - "Vidhwa hoon, murda nahi," taught by the icon Zeenat Aman, her mother-in-law. The veteran superstar, with little screen time, brought a smile to my face with her diva energy. She's funny, witty, a hoarder of wisdom, and the sounding board for Sakshi when she faces any dilemma. The surprise element was Dino Morea, who probably took away the limelight from Ishaan whenever he made an appearance as the royal of Alsipur.

Other actors such as Vihaan Samant, Chunky Panday, Nora Fatehi, and Kavya Trehan contribute decently to the show.

Final Verdict

The Royals is a refreshing watch and takes away the seriousness of elite life. It is nothing like The Crown, but allows a fragment of understanding of what the royal families in India perhaps endured when their reign dwindled. If you're looking for a show that will make you laugh and cry all at once, The Royals is for you.