Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar’s The Royals obtained backlash for ‘misinterpreting details’ and portraying the royal household as impoverished. Regardless of the criticism, Netflix introduced a second season of the present. Now, Baroda’s Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad has condemned the sequence for misrepresenting India’s royal heritage. (Additionally Learn: The Royals season 2 introduced, creator Rangita Pritish Nandy says they listened to each ‘good and ugly’ suggestions)
Radhikaraje on portrayal of Royal households in The Royals
Maharani Radhikaraje took to Instagram to share her ideas on the depiction of royal households within the present. She said, “The Royal Ignore. One would think about the royals of India, a group abundantly chronicled, photographed, biographed, and immediately well-positioned in a variety of arenas from politics, hospitality, to journal covers, would have a greater likelihood of surviving an on-screen portrayal such because the one in The Royals. Alas, that was to not be and such is our destiny, since 1947…What started as a post-independence, politically motivated propaganda of stereotypical Rajas soaked in whiskey and profligacy and Ranis in chiffons and pearls continues to outline us.”
She mirrored on India’s independence as a turning level that led to the dissolution of centuries-old, internationally recognised monarchies. Quoting Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, she described it as a “cold revolution,” the place 565 princely states—governing over 40% of pre-independence India—gave up their houses, lands, and identities for a united, democratic nation. She famous that whereas just a few resisted, most royal households accepted this unsure future. Having dominated with benevolence and acumen—usually over areas as massive and affluent as European international locations—their legacy, she stated, is clear in historical past.
She added that India not solely has the very best focus of royalty in any given nation, but in addition one that doesn’t symbolize any explicit area, caste or faith. She stated, “Indian royalty consists of Brahmins, Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs and Muslims, actually consultant of its variety. India has additionally seen a few of their best statesmen, diplomats, wildlife conservationists, bureaucrats, military officers, educationists, sportsmen, hoteliers and entrepreneurs emerge from royalty and immediately our palaces, forts and museums are maybe the previous couple of sentinels of India’s undiluted, apolitical patronage and cultural historical past, all maintained in our private capability. But in spite of everything these a long time our personal nation continues to view us – all 565 households and some thousand the Aristocracy, with an odd combination of awe, ignorance and distaste.”
Radhikaraje additional mentioned how the true ‘Royals’ are operating “India’s best-known music festivals, museums, inns, even constituencies and states” and stated, “A formidable quantity being the women of the home – Gwalior, Jaipur, Bikaner and Kotah to call just a few, Ouch to purdah and patriarchy! They proudly maintain age-old traditions and festivals just like the Dussehra of Mysore and the Holi of Jaipur and Udaipur that the world flocks to see, hold from crumbling previous forts that symbolize distinctive faculties of artwork and structure like Kishangarh, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. They hold alive royal patronage of cuisines like Sailana and Rampur and dance and music gharanas while additionally operating charitable hospitals, faculties and schools arrange by their forefathers, like we do in Baroda.”
She noticed that though most members of erstwhile royal households maintain no official roles or privileges immediately, they proceed to be revered and included in native traditions. Affectionately known as household elders—Bapji, Bapu, Daata, or Ma Saheb—they continue to be enduring figures of their communities. Whereas political representatives have come and gone, the Mahal and the households inside have remained the unchallenged custodians of native heritage.
She remarked that royal funerals nonetheless draw villagers from far and broad, younger and previous alike, who arrive with parched lips and moist eyes to bid farewell to a beloved elder, mourning not only a particular person, however a whole period. She additionally highlighted how a brand new era of royals is returning to their roots, geared up with international training and a renewed function to make their heritage sustainable, relatable, and accessible.
About The Royals
This comes days after Netflix introduced the brand new season of The Royals on Instagram, writing, “Outdated cash, new blood, and a brand new season is within the works. The Royals Season 2 is coming quickly, solely on Netflix.” Created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy, and directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, the sequence stars Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar, Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Chunky Panday, Nora Fatehi, Milind Soman, Dino Morea, and others in key roles.