Language: Hindi
Creators: Rangita Pritish Nandy, Ishita Pritish Nandy
Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar, Zeenat Aman, Dino Morea, Chunky Panday, Sakshi Tanwar, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Jagdish Rajpurohit, Lisa Mishra, Nora Fatehi and more
Netflix’s The Royals is not just a treat to the eyes, but a lot about the hurdles that royals go through in terms of finances and that’s when the hospitality industry steps in as a saviour. A fun series with a very interesting twist and a reality check that all royals are not rich. Their life is just a façade.
Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, written by Neha Veena Sharma, and produced under the banner of Pritish Nandy Communications, The Royals is created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy.
The series is about Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter), a polo-playing new-age Rajkumar. He is a ladies’ man and has a lot of other interests other than taking care of the haveli. The royals of Morpur are all about external showsha. Their lives revolve around expensive artifacts, exotic wines, heirloom diamonds and saris. All in the name of royal pratha (tradition). When they realise that they are huge debt after the death of the Maharaja (Milind Soman); Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter) asks the members of the royal family if there is any saastha pratha (cheap tradition).
That’s when Bhumi Pednekar as Aam Kumari called Sophia Kanmani Shekhar, a fiercely driven CEO with dreams bigger than any palace steps in to rescue them from this royal mess. The palace to is in bad shape and is crying for renovation. As they join forces to transform Morpur’s struggling haveli and its quirky residents into a luxury B&B experience, their clash of egos and ambitions sparks a whirlwind of flirtation, family feuds, and high-stakes frenzy.
With beautiful artifacts, locations, costumes and equally beautiful cast, Netflix’s The Royals is a real treat to the eyes. The series is no doubt hilarious, heartfelt and engaging. The series truly deserves some praise for talking about how being a royal gay is tougher than being gay. Though the show is fun, in several places, the script lacks the power to hold on to the attention of the viewers.
The writing really comes together in each of the characterisation of the show. Like all other Netflix series, not just Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter, it was such a welcome break to the gorgeous Zeenat Aman and Dino Morea to keep up the style quotient of the series high. Each and every character had an important role to play. Cinematically, the show shines no doubt, talking about several important issues which I will not be sharing here till the viewers watch it. Besides, The Royals is refreshing to see how a woman star, Bhumi Pednekar controls and takes charge of all the difficult situations in a man’s world.
The most interesting and sensible character though was the one played by Vihaan Samat as Digvijay Singh. He was the one who has some sense among all the royals and that is the reason he hired Aam Kumari Sophia Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar), a fiercely driven CEO who take them out of this mess and come up with a brilliant idea where the common man gets to experience the royal life with the members of the family.
What I feel The Royals lacks is a solid script, though the idea of the show is refreshing and the look of the show is to die for. Watch the show for the classy look of the royals and I am sure you are going to find it delightful if you are in an undemanding mood.
Rating: 3 out of 5
WATCH the trailer of Netflix’s The Royals here: