Netflix's 'The Royals' Trailer Is A Fabulous Royal Mess

By all appearances, The Royals could’ve easily been another tired palace period drama. But the trailer that dropped last night offers something far cheekier. Think less The Crown and more Succession-meets-Made in Heaven — with a polo stick in one hand and a cocktail in the other.

There’s a crumbling riyasat. A palace-turned-B&B. A prince with great cheekbones and terrible timing. And a commoner who’s clearly watched Shark Tank.

Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, this Netflix India original trades grandeur for glitz, monarchy for melodrama, and crown jewels for startup jargon. At its centre, there’s Aviraaj Singh (Ishaan Khatter), a playboy prince with a polo addiction and a rapidly sinking kingdom. He inherits a fading haveli, a grieving family, and a whole lot of unpaid bills. Enter Sophie Kanmani Shekhar (Bhumi Pednekar), a driven, deadpan CEO who’s allergic to nonsense and has no time for royal sentimentality. The two form an uneasy alliance to save Morpur’s ancestral haveli from financial ruin — and in the process, become the newest will-they-won’t-they duo on the block.

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It’s a classic clash of worlds: the entitled heir and the no-nonsense self-made woman. And Khatter and Pednekar seem to revel in the tug-of-war. In one scene, she rolls her eyes as he suavely introduces himself as "Maharaja Aviraaj" — and that pretty much sets the tone. He’s charming, infuriating, and occasionally shirtless; she’s fierce, grounded, and five steps ahead. Their chemistry feels fizzy, like champagne poured over a power struggle.

But don’t let the romantic set-up fool you — this isn’t a frothy period fantasy. It's set very much in the now. The trailer is dripping with millennial banter and Gen Z panic, with characters swanning about in lehengas and athleisure, dropping zingers about class, legacy and startup culture in the same breath. The clip is also full of visual excess: vintage chandeliers, oversized portraits, flamboyant characters (Chunky Panday appears to be doing extra in all the right ways), and enough quippy one-liners to make you pause and rewind.

In my opinion, the real bait might just be the ensemble. Zeenat Aman returns in what looks like a deliciously regal role. Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Dino Morea, Milind Soman — it’s a feast of familiar faces, all seemingly in on the fun. There’s a sly opulence to the whole thing, like the creators know they’re leaning into the soapiness — and are doing it with full flair.

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There’s an undercurrent of satire that makes The Royals stand out in a genre that’s otherwise prone to clichés. Releasing May 9, The Royals promises to be that rare thing: a rom-com with actual teeth. If the trailer’s anything to go by, this one’s going to be messy, decadent, and just the right amount of deranged.