Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 9: 'The Royals', the latest OTT series co-created by Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy, dives into the glitzy yet complicated lives of modern-day Rajasthani royalty. At its heart is the story of Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter), a dashing prince with a sculpted chest and polo-playing flair, and Sophia Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar), a spirited, self-made entrepreneur running an ethical start-up ironically named 'Work Potato'.
The classic opposites-attract rom-com setup sees the royal heartthrob clash and connect with the middle-class CEO, amid the backdrop of lavish palaces, leheriya turbans, and a royal entourage brimming with hukum and khammaghani. But despite the grand staging and a strong supporting cast including Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Chunky Panday, and Dino Morea, the show struggles to generate genuine chemistry or emotional depth.
While the production is undeniably polished, with opulent costumes and glittering jewellery even at breakfast scenes, the emotions remain too restrained. Khatter’s charisma and Pednekar’s sincerity fail to spark enough heat onscreen, with their romantic pairing lacking the intensity promised. Instead, the show finds more fire in subplots involving the middle-aged Rajmata (Tanwar) and her romantic entanglements, and the backroom boardroom politics of royalty clashing with modern business values.
Zeenat Aman, in a much-hyped role as the regal matriarch, sadly doesn’t get enough screen time to truly shine, while her social media presence ironically connects more than her scripted role. Supporting actors like Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, and Adinath Kothare offer solid performances, but even their efforts can’t lift the show beyond its stylised surface.
Despite its eight-episode length, 'The Royals' feels thin in story and spark. It plays safe with its palace drama, throwing in trendy terms like 'situationship' and influencer culture to appeal to a younger crowd, but the show’s emotional core never quite lands.
Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, 'The Royals' dazzles visually but falters in delivering a compelling tale of love, legacy, and modernity.