New Delhi: Ishaan khatter and bhumi pednekar’s new series The Royals has received mixed reactions from both fans and critics. While some have praised the performances and styling, others criticised its portrayal of royal families. Despite the divided opinion, the series is trending and has been widely watched—some even tuning in out of curiosity due to Zeenat Amaan’s appearance.
Netflix recently announced a second season of the show. However, controversy continues to brew. Baroda’s Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad strongly criticised the series, calling it a misrepresentation of historical facts and an inaccurate portrayal of India’s royal families as impoverished.
Taking to Instagram, Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad penned a powerful note titled The Royal Ignore. She wrote: “One would imagine the royals of India—a community abundantly chronicled, photographed, biographed, and today well-positioned in fields ranging from politics and hospitality to magazine covers—would have a better chance of surviving an on-screen portrayal such as the one in The Royals. Alas, that was not to be, and such is our fate since 1947…
What began as a post-independence, politically motivated propaganda of stereotypical Rajas soaked in whiskey and profligacy, and Ranis in chiffons and pearls, continues to define us.”
She described India’s independence as a pivotal moment that led to what she termed a “bloodless revolution.” Citing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, she noted that 565 princely states—representing over 40% of pre-independence India—gave up their kingdoms in favour of a unified, democratic nation.
“Most royal families accepted this uncertain future, though some resisted,” she wrote. Radhikaraje argued that these families ruled with wisdom and generosity, often governing regions as prosperous as European nations. Their contributions, she said, are well documented in India’s political, cultural, and social fabric.
She went on to highlight the diversity within Indian royalty—Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs, Muslims, and Brahmins among them—and their continued relevance. “India has produced some of its best politicians, diplomats, conservationists, bureaucrats, soldiers, educators, and businesspeople from royal lineages,” she added.
“Our forts, palaces, and museums are the last standing symbols of India’s apolitical patronage and cultural legacy—preserved through personal effort,” she noted. “Yet, even after all these years, the nation still looks at us, 565 families and a few thousand nobles, with a strange mix of wonder, ignorance, and contempt.”
Despite the backlash, Netflix has announced Season 2 of The Royals. The streaming platform shared: “Old money, new blood, and a new season is in the works. The Royals Season 2 is coming soon, only on Netflix.”
The series is directed by Nupur Asthana and Priyanka Ghose and is expected to continue stirring debate over representation, legacy, and the complex reality of India’s post-independence aristocracy.
