The Royals review: Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter front a glossy series stuck in its own premise

The Royals story:

The Royals unfolds in the magnificent but deteriorating city of Morpur and follows a dramatic, comedic, and romantic journey. What begins as a business transaction between a decaying royal family and a sharp, ambitious CEO soon turns into a memorable adventure of pride, aspirations, and surprising romance. The series stars Ishaan Khatter as the reticent and polo-playing modern-day royal Aviraaj Singh and Bhumi Pednekar as the CEO and commoner Sophia Kanmani Shekhar, also known as Aam Kumari, who harbours ambitions that surpass any palace. Their worlds collide, setting off a whirlwind of emotions as they work together to turn a rundown haveli in Morpur and its quirky residents into a luxury B&B.

The Royals review:

We grow up reading and watching royal-commoner love stories, starting with Disney fairytales like Cinderella. Now, we have a full-fledged series featuring a Raja who sees no reason to strip, attempts to be politically correct, and gradually becomes apologetic. On the other hand, we meet a common and self-made woman who takes her project so seriously that the moment she begins her presentation, it appears unserious, so to speak.

We live in challenging times, defined by widespread sadness and anger. All we need are light-hearted moments, and “The Royals” brings them at the right time. But “content”-wise, does it keep you entertained across eight episodes? Let’s find out...

The Netflix series opens on a Sri Lankan beach where Sophia Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar) goes for her morning run and crosses paths with Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter, who made his acting debut with Beyond The Clouds), who is shirtless and riding a horse named Coffee. Although it is hate at first flipping of fingers, the duo wastes no time hooking up—only to end up fighting soon after. Their first meeting defines the tone of the series, which ultimately leaves you frustrated.

We then move to Morpur, a fading city palace in Rajasthan, owned by Aviraaj’s family—including his younger brother Diggy, played by Vihaan Samat; younger sister Jinnie, played by Kavya Trehan; their mother Padmaja, played by Sakshi Tanwar; and Zeenat Aman as the sassy matriarch. We also get constant glimpses of Milind Soman, who plays the father of the three children.

Meanwhile, Team Sophia includes her business partner Kunal, played by Udit Arora; her assistant Keerthana, played by Sumukhi Suresh; and Lisa Mishra, who plays a designer named Nikki. When all of these people come together under one ruling roof, all hell breaks loose immediately.

The series presents a meaty premise—and yes, we’ve seen this before. But as the story progresses, it remains stuck in the premise and refuses to enter the main door where it needs to be. Across eight episodes, the love story between a royal and a commoner only drags through a tedious push-and-pull between Aviraaj and Sophia. Well, we can’t ignore it, can we? Because the whole story hinges on that, while other elements merely serve as catalysts and leave no impact.

Initially, they become acquainted, but they choose not to disclose their relationship to anyone, fearing it may jeopardise the business. But every time they meet, they only see their differences—which keeps them apart. They make a concerted effort to maintain distance and resist attraction. Well, that proves difficult for them—and for us to watch entirely.

The story is set during a time when the royals are, in fact, impoverished and facing significant financial difficulties. So, Sophia must save their royalty and keep their palace grand. It's a simple concept, but the makers take the complicated route to have namesake romance involved when it isn't even present in the first place. The characters work hard to confuse viewers about what to expect from The Royals as a whole.

To be honest, the lead actors end up as the weakest characters of the series, serving only as puppets to the script and never getting a chance to shine—even when the scope exists. Conversely, the supporting ensemble, particularly Sakshi Tanwar, receives more significant roles, which is not surprising. Give her any character, and she moulds it so easily that it instantly becomes a treat for the eyes. The best lines go to her, and her interactions with every character flow like water—natural and unforced.

Vihaan Samat, another actor who makes a significant impact, harbours insecurities not about not becoming a king but about escaping the shadow of royalty. The secret he holds and his eventual decision to escape it are quite impressive. And that’s how a character arc should be—showing progress and not stuck in the same gear.

The Royals pulls off a casting coup by casting several supporting characters to take the storyline forward. However, the process leads to a decline in the storyline’s quality and reveals underlying struggles. Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana (of Hip Hip Hurray fame) direct the series, bringing the fluff and glossy aesthetics in the right way. But they lose their grip on the story, so even the lead actors’ performances become less important.

The facade shown throughout the series becomes a reality at the point of even surviving the purpose of The Royals and where it wants to head, actually.

The Royals verdict:

The Royals tries to serve a royal feast but ends up dishing out a lukewarm buffet of clichés, misfired chemistry, and confused storytelling. While the palace is grand, the plot barely gets past the gate.