The Royals review on Netflix: Ishaan Khatter sizzles as modern prince in scandalous show, but heat runs out

Dubai: There’s something deliciously voyeuristic about peeking into the gilded lives of kings, queens, and rakish royals—and The Royals, created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy, milks that fantasy for all it’s worth.

At its heart is a steamy, scandal-laced romance between a perpetually shirtless King-apparent Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter, giving royal abs real estate) and a trout-lipped, boardroom-boss CEO Sophia Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar, glammed up to the nines).

Together, they anchor a love story that’s straight out of a Barbara Cartland bodice-ripper—think palaces, passion, and plenty of lip locks. If Shonda Rhimes’ Regency-era Bridgerton were transplanted among Rajasthan royalty, and Rege-Jean Page’s iconic “I burn for you” moment was culturally reimagined by Khatter, then you’d land squarely in the wicked, scandal-soaked world of The Royals.

Khatter plays the prince as a classic man-child—equal parts brooding charm and smouldering stares—slowly realising he’s no longer the master of his heart (or his hormones). He carries the show on his sculpted shoulders with aplomb, injecting just enough gravitas to an otherwise delightfully indulgent soap opera.

While the plot may be vacant at times, The Royals compensates with its unapologetic opulence and a cast that delivers in varying degrees of restraint. Sakshi Tanwar lends quiet dignity as Padmaja Singh, the matriarch of the royal family. In contrast, Zeenat Aman hams it up as the gummy-popping Maji Saheba—a grandmother with a bizarre fondness for psychedelia and devil-may-care philosophy. The drama is further dialled up by the second-fiddle prince Digvijay Singh, played by Vihaan Samat and fellow royal princess Ayesha Dhondi, played by a sultry Nora Fatehi.

The writing isn’t particularly smart, but The Royals has all the makings of an irresistible guilty pleasure. Ishaan Khatter—and his gleaming torso—does much of the heavy lifting (and the talking). To his credit, he shines in the emotionally-charged scenes, especially when grappling with the idea that ascending the throne means losing all agency over his life. His quiet devastation in those moments lends the show its rare flashes of sincerity amid all the scripted scandal.

Any Bridgerton fan will tell you—the success of a steamy period romance hinges on the chemistry between its leads. Bhumi Pednekar, with her distractingly pouty lips, and Ishaan Khatter work hard to ignite that spark. While it doesn’t always smoulder, they eventually find a rhythm that’s more smouldering soap than slow-burn swoon.

Speaking of chemistry, some of the show’s most watchable moments come from the royal siblings themselves. Ishaan Khatter, Vihaan Samat, and Kavya Trehan—who plays the poised and enigmatic Divyaranijini Singh—bring a believable, lived-in energy to their scenes. Whether they’re sparring with words or throwing punches in a barn, their chaotic sibling dynamics feel grounded and oddly endearing, offering a rare glimpse of authenticity in an otherwise hyper-stylised world.

As always, Hindi shows get South Indian representation wrong—The Royals is no exception. Bhumi Pednekar plays a South Indian, middle-class woman who transforms into a high-net-worth CEO toting luxury watches, power-suits and designer bags. Her backstory is painted with broad strokes: orphaned young, raised by her grandparents, now a self-made powerhouse. But the cultural detailing ends there.

Just dropping in kanna—a Tamil term of endearment meaning “darling”—doesn’t cut it. Representation isn’t about sprinkling in regional phrases; it’s about getting the nuances right. From accents to aesthetics, this portrayal once again leans on tokenism rather than authenticity.

But the biggest letdown? The plot twists. What begins as a smouldering romance between Bhumi and Ishaan’s characters—once the spine of the show—soon feels stilted, with the chemistry turning awkwardly performative.

While the palatial backdrops, designer wardrobes, and regal jewels are undeniably swoon-worthy, they come off as mere window dressing for a narrative that lacks emotional depth. Still, like Bridgerton, The Royals is a guilty pleasure. Knights on horseback, modern-day CEOs turning into damsels in distress—it’s all entertaining, if you’re willing to suspend disbelief and dive headfirst into its gilded, frothy fantasy.

Watch the trailer of The Royals starring Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar:

The key to enjoying this delightfully classy-yet-trashy series is simple: lean all the way into Ishaan Khatter’s hotness. Don’t fight it. Just let his smouldering stares, sculpted abs, and emotionally tortured prince routine wash over you like the Rajasthan landscape.

If Bridgerton had Regé-Jean Page—the brooding Duke of Hastings who made restraint look ravishing—then Bollywood has finally found its answer. Khatter may not have a cravat, but he’s got charisma, collarbones, and enough slow-motion strutting to carry an entire palace on his back.