Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter showing in the new series
The Royals Series Review : Netflix’s new web series The Royals, featuring Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter, was released on May 9, offering a much-needed break from the crime thrillers that dominate the OTT scene. This romantic comedy seemed like a perfect escape, but it hasn’t exactly resonated with audiences. Despite a quick binge of all 8 episodes, many viewers have shared their disappointment, with some even finding it to be a decent watch.
The Rajkumar and the Aam Kumari. He is royalty, she is middle-class. He rides horses on the beach, sculpted bare chest a-gleam. She’s shiny too, but more from the plebeian pursuit of running. Cool tracks, though, and very sculpted too, but of course, chalk and cheese.
Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter) and Sophia Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar) spark, clash, part, meet again. You know the drill; classic rom com territory. Add in big baubles and bigger palaces, , a phalanx of princes and princesses, and the full Rajasthan rajasi retinue, with the the constant flurry of hukum, khammaghani, leheriya headgear, in place.
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Cast
The show features a strong cast, with Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter at the forefront. Pednekar plays Sophia, an ambitious woman leading an innovative project, while Khatter portrays Aviraaj, a reluctant prince who isn’t thrilled by his royal duties. Supporting roles are filled by Milind Soman as Yuvanath, Aviraaj’s late father, and Zeenat Aman as his grandmother. Other key performances include Sakshi Tanwar as Rani Maa, Aviraaj’s mother, and Dino Morea as Maharaja Salauddin, who offers a glimpse into the reality of royal life.
Plot
The story centres on Aviraaj, who unexpectedly inherits the title of Maharaj of Morpur after his father’s passing. Unlike his brother, Digvijay (Vihaan Samat), who embraces royal duties, Aviraaj wants nothing to do with it. However, due to the family’s financial struggles, he’s roped into helping Sophia with The Royal B&B, a project that allows commoners to experience royal life firsthand.
As the two worlds collide, Aviraaj and Sophia develop a romantic connection, though things get messy with the return of their respective exes—Sophia’s former partner Kunal (Udit Arora) and Aviraaj’s ex Ayesha (Nora Fatehi). The show follows their relationship ups and downs, with the question of whether they’ll end up together, and if Sophia can succeed in her unique initiative.
The supporting characters, including Aviraaj’s sibling Jennie (Kavya Trehan), add layers to the plot, while his mother and grandmother push for a royal marriage to secure their financial future.
The Gist
Sophia Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar) is the CEO and co-founder of Work Potato, a Mumbai-based company that “has changed the B&B game in the hospitality business.” She’s prepping for a meeting with her board about a new venture. She’s running to clear her head, but runs into a roped-off portion of the public beach. A photo shoot is going on, with a shirtless man — Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter), a Rajkumar (prince) in Morpur, India. She goes through the rope, and his horse gets spooked, and the two of them have a meet-cute.
Sophia does the meeting in her workout gear over Zoom when her assistant Keertana (Sumukhi Suresh) mixes up the times. She and her CFO/business partner Kunal Mehta (Udit Arora) are proposing an expansion of the business, “Royal B&B,” which not only lets people book rooms in royal castles around India but also spend time with the royal families that live there. The board chairman is doubtful.
Later, at the hotel bar, Aviraaj and his friends are making noise, and Sophia tells him to lower the volume. At this point, she’s “running girl” to him, and he’s “horse guy” to her. But there definitely is a spark, and they go to her room and get busy. But mutual phone calls interrupt them, and they can’t get their mojo back. In fact, they start to argue, with Sophia thinking Aviraaj is spoiled and privileged and Aviraaj thinking Sophia is picky.
Aviraaj is called back to Motibagh Palace, his family home, to hear the will of his father, the Maharaja. Attending is his brother Digvijay (Vihaan Samat), sister Divyaranjini (Kavya Trehan), mother Padmaja (Sakshi Tanwar) and grandmother Maji (Zeenat Aman). They’re all shocked when the will not only specifies the New York-based playboy Aviraaj is named his father’s successor as Maharaja, but all of the family’s cash is going to a mysterious person not in attendance. Oh, and the family also has to service their father’s massive debts.
You can see where this is going: Aviraaj and his family need the income, and Sophia finally gets board approval for her “Royal B&B” idea but commits to getting it launched in six short months. What are the odds that these two crazy kids are going to meet again?
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