Is shirtless Ishaan Khatter the real crown Jewel in Netflix’s saucy new show The Royals?

Dubai: I’m midway through Netflix’s The Royals — think Bollywood’s answer to Bridgerton with a contemporary twist.

Picture a world filled with fading royalty clawing for relevance, dazzling heirlooms, forbidden romances, and scandalous secrets. But let’s cut to the chase: five episodes in, and what’s most unforgettable so far is Ishaan Khatter’s bare chest.

From the moment he’s introduced — shirtless on a horse by the beach, torso glistening like a vacation brochure gone wild — Khatter is the object of unabashed desire. He’s shirtless while brooding. Shirtless while crying into his pillow. Shirtless while plotting. And I’m not complaining. In fact, I might need smelling salts — because most women watching this probably already fainted at the sight of his sculpted abs.

But let’s be fair. We’ve grown up watching women being objectified — their bodies constantly framed as eye candy. So trust Pritish Nandy and Netflix to flip the script and make a whole meal out of male objectification. And Ishaan? He’s leaning right into it. He knows he looks good, and he’s flaunting it like a man who’s fully in control of his desirability.

And yet, a small part of me — the ever-watchful critic — wonders: if this were a woman being this relentlessly undressed for the camera, wouldn’t we be up in arms by now? Wouldn’t there be conversations about the male gaze, about dignity, about agency? Where is the outrage now?

But here’s the kicker: Ishaan isn’t a passive prop. He’s the anchor of the show, both emotionally and narratively. He’s not just a pretty face (or chest). He’s delivering a layered performance, fully immersed in the world of The Royals. And if objectification is part of the package, he’s clearly made peace with it — and maybe even weaponized it.

The full review is coming soon. But for now, let’s just say this: Ishaan Khatter shoulders The Royals with royal poise — and a whole lot of exposed skin.