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| The Royals | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by |
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| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Country of origin | India |
| Original language | Hindi |
| No. of episodes | 8[1] |
| Production | |
| Producer | Pritish Nandy |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 39–49 minutes |
| Production company | Pritish Nandy Communications |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
The Royals is a 2025 IndianHindi-languageromanticcomedy drama television series directed by Priyanka Ghose andNupur Asthana and written by Neha Veena Sharma.[2][3] Produced by Pritish Nandy Communications, the series stars anensemble cast includingBhumi Pednekar,Ishaan Khatter,Zeenat Aman,Sakshi Tanwar,Nora Fatehi,Vihaan Samat,Dino Morea, andMilind Soman.[4] The narrative follows a financially struggling royal family in modern-day India whose fortunes take an unexpected turn when the heir teams up with a hospitality entrepreneur to revive their ancestral palace as a luxury resort.
The series premiered onNetflix on May 9, 2025, and received mixed reviews from critics. While the performances of Khatter, Samat, and Tanwar, and its costumes and production design was widely praised, Pednekar's chemistry with Khatter was panned, the direction was considered underwhelming and the storyline drew criticism for lacking emotional depth.[5] The series was renewed for a second season on May 28, 2025.
| No. in | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Royal Misunderstanding." | Priyanka Ghose | Neha Veena Sharma | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 2 | "A Pitch Made in Heaven." | Priyanka Ghose | Neha Veena Sharma | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 3 | "A Swing and a Ms." | Priyanka Ghose | Iti Agarwal | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 4 | "A Ball to Remember." | Nupur Asthana | Vishnu Sinha and Neha Veena Sharma | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 5 | "The Ex-Factor." | Priyanka Ghose | Iti Agarwal and Neha Veena Sharma | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 6 | "The Maharaja and the CEO." | Priyanka Ghose | Vishnu Sinha | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 7 | "The Maharaja who Loved." | Nupur Asthana | Neha Veena Sharma and Vishnu Sinha | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
| 8 | "Lights, Camera, AUCTION!" | Priyanka Ghose | Neha Veena Sharma | 9 May 2025 (2025-05-09) |
The series was officially commissioned byNetflix, with Priyanka Ghose andNupur Asthana attached to direct.Production was handled by Pritish Nandy Communications.[6][7]
Bhumi Pednekar andIshaan Khatter were cast in the lead roles.[8]Sakshi Tanwar joined the ensemble following the departure ofMallika Sherawat, who exited the project due to creative differences.[9]
Principal photography began in February 2024 and concluded in May 2024.[10][11] The series was filmed primarily on location inJaipur andMumbai.[12]
| The Royals | |
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| Soundtrack album | |
| Released | 5 May 2025 (2025-05-05)[13] |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 20:04 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | Universal Music India |
The series features a recreated version of the song "Tu Tu Hai Wahi" from the 1982 filmYeh Vaada Raha, originally sung byKishore Kumar andAsha Bhosle.[14] A promotional event for the song, scheduled to take place inJuhu on 8 May 2025, was cancelled byNetflix in response to the2025 India–Pakistan strikes.[15]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tu Tu Hai Wahi" | Gulshan Bawra | R.D.Burman, RUUH, JOH | Asha Bhosle,Jonita Gandhi,Jubin Nautiyal, RUUH, JOH | 2:35 |
| 2. | "Who Rules The World" | Sukriti Bhardwaj | Harsh Upadhyay | Sukriti Bhardwaj, Anish Mathew | 2:41 |
| 3. | "Adayein Teri" | Smriti Bhoker, RUUH, JOH | RUUH, JOH | Savera,Neeti Mohan, RUUH, JOH | 2:50 |
| 4. | "Dil Deewana" | Smriti Bhoker, RUUH, JOH | RUUH, JOH | Sukriti Kakkar, RUUH, JOH | 2:56 |
| 5. | "Dhun" | Swati Marwal | Aditya N., Nayantara Bhatkal | Aditya N., Nayantara Bhatkal | 3:06 |
| 6. | "Jeena" | Yashwardhan Goswami | Kanishk Seth | Akanksha Bhandari | 3:22 |
| 7. | "Ecstasy" | Smriti Bhoker | RUUH, JOH | Jonita Gandhi,Jubin Nautiyal, RUUH, JOH | 2:34 |
| Total length: | 20:04 | ||||
The first teaser forThe Royals was released on 3 February 2025,[16] followed by the official trailer on 22 April 2025.[17]
The series was made available for streaming onNetflix on 9 May 2025.[18]
Sukanya Verma ofRediff.com rated the series 2 out of 5 stars. In her review, she criticized the show's emphasis on surface-level aesthetics, remarking that "everything is seen through the prism of sex and good looks." She argued that the narrative—centered on a financially strained royal family launching a hospitality venture—lacked narrative depth and relied excessively on visual appeal.[19]
Shubhra Gupta fromThe Indian Express also awarded the series 2 out of 5 stars, describing it as "all show." She observed that the production "struggles for air under all that costumery," suggesting that elaborate visuals could not compensate for its lack of narrative substance. Gupta also found the central romantic arc underwhelming, stating that "all that coupling... doesn’t really get as steamy as it should have."[20]
Abhimanyu Mathur ofHindustan Times offered a more favorable view, rating the series 3 out of 5 stars. He described it as a "fun rom-com" that balances frivolity with occasional emotional weight. Mathur praised the chemistry between the lead actors and drew comparisons toBridgerton, writing that the series effectively combines Bollywood elements with a period-drama sensibility. While noting its imperfections, he concluded that it was a "much-needed clutter-breaker" in the Indian streaming landscape.[21]
Pallavi Keswani ofThe Hindu was more critical of the series, stating that it "finds itself creatively lacking despite possessing a long list of talented names." She argued that the show failed to leverage its ensemble cast into compelling drama, citing an absence of innovation or originality in its storytelling.[22]
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