The Royals director on facing backlash over Ishaan Khatter,Bhumi Pednekar casting, shirtless scenes, Zeenat Aman's cameo: I'll try better next time

Director reacts to The Royals backlash

Netflix's latest series The Royals debuted last week and has swiftly taken social media by storm.

The show has generated both praise and criticism due to its lavish settings, striking attire, and the celebrity duo of Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar.

While many viewers were thrilled by the visual extravaganza and the audacious character portrayals, others were quick to voice their disapproval, especially regarding the veteran actress Zeenat Aman's brief appearance and the lack of on-screen chemistry between the leads.

In a candid conversation with India Today, director Priyanka Ghose addressed these reactions and shared insights on the show’s creation as well as the possibility of a second season.

Not one to obsess over audience reactions, Ghose said she relies on her team to keep her updated. “There is a lot of love and hate coming in, but as artists, we never step into a project keeping the end result in mind,” she reflected. “There are times when you get a lot of creative freedom, and at times, not.”

On the divisive response to the central pairing, Ghose stood by the choice. “With Bhumi's casting by Netflix, I was actually very open to the idea of trying this new pairing... While Ishaan hasn't got a chance to play a glamorous mainstream hero role, Bhumi has always been like the queen of heartland India,” she said.

Ghose added that the duo underwent several workshops to develop comfort and rapport, and she found their chemistry convincing on set. “If it didn't work for some people, I will try better next time,” she added.

Commenting on Ishaan Khatter’s frequent shirtless scenes, Ghose joked about the feedback but clarified, “Honestly, every shirtless scene of Aviraj existed in the script that I was given.” She assured that Ishaan was thoughtful about each moment and discussions were held to ensure balance.

Regarding Zeenat Aman’s cameo, Ghose confirmed it was always intended as a special appearance. “She's also been credited with that, and it was never meant to be a full track. Whenever we have these legendary superstars making these cameo appearances, we crave more, and the same happened with Zeenat ma'am. As much as I would have loved, the script had only those many scenes.” she said.

She also praised Sakshi Tanwar’s portrayal of the eccentric Maharani, calling it a standout transformation.

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As for a second season, Ghose said plans remain uncertain. “We could wait for the producers to make a formal announcement.”

For now, The Royals continues to stream on Netflix, sparking debates and admiration in equal measure.