Netflix’s ‘The Royals’: Rangita Pritish Nandy on Bringing Indian Regals to the Global Stage and Ishaan Khatter’s Shirtless Scenes – ‘It’s a Lot of Times, and Nobody’s Going to be Complaining’

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The series “The Royals” from Netflix presents an imaginary royal family in India, featuring palace politics, power disputes, and a prince with an uncanny tendency to go shirtless. It’s making its way onto screens worldwide.

Netflix’s newest Indian show presents a fresh, modern take on the romantic comedy genre by focusing on a made-up Indian royal family within the decaying kingdom of Morpur.

Produced by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy under their company Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC), this series introduces us to Ishaan Khatter’s character Aviraaj Singh, a prince who dislikes polo and is modern in his outlook. Alongside him is Bhumi Pednekar as Sophia Kanmani Shekhar, a determined CEO with lofty corporate goals.

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As a cinephile captivated by unique narratives, I found myself intrigued by a concept that Rangita Pritish Nandy referred to as a “dichotomy” – a tale that delved into the strife between timeless royalty and contemporary business acumen. She elucidated that in essence, Indian royalty is a figment of the past, extinct since 1950 when it was abolished. Yet, there remains an air of opulence and grandeur with the palaces still standing, a stark contrast to the absence of monarchy anywhere in India.

The monarchy in India came to an end on January 26, 1950, when the country transitioned into a republic. Despite this, they retained certain privileges, such as a regular allowance referred to as a privy purse, which were largely phased out (except for specific instances) in 1971. Nowadays, many of India’s former royal palaces have been repurposed and serve as luxury hotels.

Nandy explains to EbMaster that the primary goal is to redistribute wealth and power from those who have historically held it, or are perceived to hold it, to a new generation of startup pioneers. These individuals are asserting their influence while experimenting with the evolving privileges within this sphere. At the core of this transformation, according to Nandy, lies a love story because he identifies as a romantic comedy enthusiast.

The show centers around the unusual alliance between Aviraaj and Sophia as they strive to reinvent Morpur’s faltering palace into a high-end bed & breakfast establishment, resulting in a power struggle that eventually blossoms into something deeper. Nandy highlights that what makes “The Royals” distinctive from typical romantic comedies is by establishing the primary romance within a bustling environment teeming with life and vitality… an unstable family, an unstable work environment, which introduces more complex factors to both push apart and bring together the main characters.

For Bhumi Pednekar, taking on the role of Sophia was a shift from her past characters. According to Nandy, “Everything she’s portrayed before has been within a specific range, and she’s excelled in that. For her, this character marked a new tune in her repertoire.” The character of Sophia mirrors the bold female leads that PNC is known for, particularly the Emmy-nominated series “Four More Shots Please,” which was also created by Nandy.

According to Nandy, what we consistently do seems to be not offering apologies for our actions involving women. This approach allows them room to stumble, err, and learn naturally as they progressively move towards achieving their goals.

The pairing of Bhumi with Ishaan in their roles was purposeful, aiming to generate an intriguing on-screen interaction. As Nandy discloses, “Their relationship was like yin and yang.” When they were together, it was evident that they had a palpable chemistry from the very start, but this wasn’t your typical chemistry. They both exhibited strong, dominant personalities.

Ishan Khatter, prominent in the popular Netflix series “The Perfect Couple,” was a top choice from the beginning, as stated by the director. On the other hand, actress Kriti Sanon was suggested by Netflix. The moment Nandy met her, he declared, “This is exactly who we need… she’s perfect.” He further added, “Often, you just know an actor has the potential when you meet them, as they both excel in their profession.

For those captivated by the shirtless scenes of Khatter highlighted in the trailer, Nandy playfully admits: “I’ll admit, it appears quite frequently, and I don’t think anyone will have any complaints about that.

This versatile acting group includes the renowned Indian actress Zeenat Aman, alongside Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Dino Morea, Milind Soman, Chunky Panday, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Sumukhi Suresh, Udit Arora, Lisa Mishra, and Luke Kenny.

When questioned about the shifting terrain for Indian series on international platforms such as Netflix, Nandy emphasizes the significance of preserving cultural authenticity. “In my opinion,” she says, “as creators from India, we must ensure that India is prominently featured in the content we produce. By doing so, we can present something unique and internal to a global audience, rather than merely imitating Western culture.

Much of today’s content shares a common tone with global productions. However, ‘The Royals’, in particular, distinguishes itself because it explores Indian royalty, which is technically non-existent in reality. The show provides a unique perspective to viewers globally, offering an insight into the opulent world of palaces and the secretive palace life, an intriguing and alluring spectacle for people outside this realm according to Nandy.

The series, orchestrated by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana in the director’s chair and penned by Neha Veena Sharma, required approximately 1.5 years to create, as disclosed by Nandy. Their ultimate ambition, and the goal they strive for, is to secure a follow-up season. If the characters aren’t captivating or ones that you’d want to invite into your home, then it’s unlikely you’ll truly appreciate the show.

By focusing on developing complex and multidimensional characters, PNC manages to draw in top-tier performers. As Nandy puts it, “Actors are genuinely enthusiastic about joining the team because there’s an abundance of depth they can explore within these roles, and plenty of enjoyment they can derive from embodying them.

Looking back at PNC’s journey since its beginning, I find that their fundamental approach has undergone only subtle transformations. Our initial films such as “Chameli,” “Jhankaar Beats,” “Pyaar Ke Side Effects,” and “Shaadi Ke Side Effects” were never typical Bollywood productions. Instead, they resonated with the emerging multiplexes, enabling us to connect with a more modern urban audience in cities.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve always sensed that the stories we’ve crafted were resonating beyond our immediate circle, perhaps even globally. Initially, this seemed like a challenge, but now, I realize it’s our most valuable strength.

Regarding future plans for a possible second season, Nandy expresses his intention to continue residing in the magnificent palaces of India. He finds nothing more stunning than India itself, and believes that we have not yet shared enough Indian stories within our own country. Instead, we often venture off to foreign lands, but there are numerous tales waiting to be told here at home.

“The Royals” is streaming now on Netflix worldwide.

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2025-05-09 08:11