If your summer streaming lineup is in need of a refresh, Netflix’s The Royals is here to serve grandeur, glam, and an irresistibly attractive cast wrapped in a rich, romantic drama. With its palace intrigue, class-clashing romance, and a healthy dose of eye candy, the new Indian series is already making waves—and making us swoon.
Set in the fictional city of Morpur, India, The Royals tells the story of Aviraaj Singh, a dashing modern-day prince with a crumbling family estate, and Sophia Kanmani Shekhar, a powerful and stylish CEO with a razor-sharp mind and an eye for business. When Aviraaj’s once-grand palace faces financial ruin, Sophia swoops in with a bold idea: transform the aging royal residence into a five-star bed-and-breakfast. What starts as a business deal quickly turns into something more, and let’s just say—neither the decor nor the sexual tension is subtle.
A Royal Plot With a Modern Twist
Created by Four More Shots Please! duo Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy, and directed by The Night Manager’s Priyanka Ghose and Hip Hip Hurray’s Nupur Asthana, The Royals mixes Bollywood charm with bingeable drama. Screenwriter Neha Veena Sharma (Ziddi Girls) ensures that the dialogue sparkles with tension, flirtation, and cultural nuance, as class differences and personal pride clash with a romance neither Aviraaj nor Sophia saw coming.
Think Bridgerton meets Succession—but with way better weather and a lot more color. And with every episode, the stakes climb as the bed-and-breakfast project brings the pair closer together—and closer to everything they’ve been running from.
The Cast Is Scorching—And We’re Not Just Talking Chemistry
Let’s talk about the heat. Leading man Ishaan Khatter (The Perfect Couple) as Aviraaj Singh is all brooding charm, sharp cheekbones, and aristocratic swagger. Whether he’s riding horseback across a beach or striding through palace grounds in a tailored sherwani, he delivers peak prince fantasy.
Opposite him, Bhumi Pednekar (Badhaai Do) shines as Sophia, a self-made woman who rocks a power suit just as effortlessly as she commands a room. She’s equal parts elegance and steel, and watching her challenge Aviraaj’s outdated ideas of royalty is as satisfying as watching them flirt over business plans.
The ensemble cast is just as star-studded—and just as hot. Screen icons like Zeenat Aman (Panipat) and Milind Soman (Emergency) bring gravitas and nostalgia, while rising stars like Vihaan Samat (CTRL) and Kavya Trehan (Hush Hush) keep things fresh and energetic. Nora Fatehi (Bharat), Dino Morea (The Empire), and Chunky Panday (Liger) also appear, making the palace feel less like a crumbling relic and more like the VIP section of fashion week.
There’s also a delightful cameo from singer Lisa Mishra (Call Me Bae), and Udit Arora (Crash Course) as Kunal Mehta—bringing comic relief and a healthy dose of chaos to the mix. If you’re looking for a new fictional crush, trust: this show delivers options.
Style, Setting, and Swoon-Worthy Vibes
The fictional setting of Morpur is a character in itself, showcasing lavish interiors, sunlit courtyards, and sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. It’s the kind of place where drama feels inevitable—and every room looks like it belongs on a luxury wedding mood board. Costume design leans into both tradition and modernity, offering plenty of fashion inspo whether you prefer embroidered silks or minimalist power dressing.
And then there’s the soundtrack—lush, cinematic, and perfectly matched to every flirtation, fight, and emotional breakthrough. From upbeat fusion tracks to aching ballads, the music only deepens the emotional pull of each episode.
Why The Royals Belongs on Your Watchlist
More than just a love story, The Royals is a narrative about legacy, reinvention, and breaking down barriers—both personal and societal. It’s about building something new without forgetting where you came from. For LGBTQ+ audiences, the themes of identity, self-determination, and found family will resonate, even as the romance plays out between a straight couple.
It’s also refreshing to see a female character like Sophia lead the charge: unapologetically ambitious, complex, and never sidelined by her love interest. Her success isn’t framed as a problem—it’s the reason she’s on this journey in the first place. Add in Aviraaj’s slow transformation from stubborn royal to thoughtful partner, and the result is a romance that actually feels earned.
Stream It Now
The Royals is now streaming on Netflix, and trust us—you’ll want to binge it all in one go. Whether you’re in it for the steamy chemistry, the royal glow-up, or just to watch Ishaan Khatter in riding boots (no judgment), this is the kind of escapist drama we need more of.
So pour a glass of wine, grab your favorite silk robe, and settle in. The crown jewels have arrived—and they’re hotter than ever.
