All smoke, no screen time: How The Royals wasted Zeenat Aman's comeback

India Today

13-05-2025

When a name like Zeenat Aman is associated with a project, expectations soar automatically. Synonymous with glamour and grace in the 70s, her legacy continues to resonate with generations of fans. Amid high expectations from fans to see her back on the screen, that wish came true with the icon's appearance in Netflix's 'The Royals'. While the show flaunts glossy visuals and a sprawling ensemble, its handling of Zeenat Aman's character leaves much to be desired, ultimately, a missed opportunity that lingers with disappointment.advertisementAt a time when seasoned actors are finally being given layered, powerful roles on streaming platforms, it's heartbreaking to see an icon like her wasted in such a forgettable part. While the actor was ready to carry the weight of her own crown, it looks like the script simply refused to let her.While the show starring Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter promised a compelling blend of regality, power play, and nostalgia, the return of 1970s screen siren Zeenat Aman turned those high expectations to dust. Her role was not just underutilised, it was unforgivably squandered. advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in)The veteran actor as Maji Sahiba, the matriarch of the royal family, is caught in the storm of palace politics and modern-day scandals. Given her legendary aura and the character's potential to anchor emotional gravitas and intrigue, Maji Sahiba should have been the show's backbone.
Instead, Aman is reduced to a glorified cameo, where she is mostly seen smoking weed, delivering cryptic one-liners or sitting stoically with her presence in the narrative largely neglected.With the successful comebacks of her contemporaries, expectations were naturally high. Neetu Kapoor made a notable return with Saif Ali Khan's 'Love Aaj Kal' (2009), followed by her acclaimed performance in 'Do Dooni Chaar' (2010) alongside Rishi Kapoor, which was widely praised given her stellar performance. Similarly, Farida Jalal's comeback in 'Heeramandi' earned widespread praise.And who can forget Sharmila Tagore's graceful return in 'Gulmohar', a role that helped the show bag several awards? With such strong returns by yesteryear icons, fans continue to hope that these legends will choose scripts that truly do justice to their legacy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in)Zeenat Aman's casting in 'The Royals' looked like a strategic move to bring prestige and buzz to the series rather than a genuine creative decision. Adding her name to the celeb roll call in the series, the makers may have hoped to add more weightage to the story, but it failed to match up to the expectations of the fans.advertisementThe premise of the series was ripe for a strong matriarchal figure to anchor the emotional and political tensions. Zeenat could have portrayed a queen torn between loyalty to tradition and the moral ambiguity of her family's secrets. However, none of it happened. Instead, her character was just reduced to ornamental value.In one of the scenes where the entire royal clan crashes and their palace is being sealed, Zeenat, being the head where her commanding presence could have deepened the show's impact, is curiously sidelined. She is sitting in her room, smoking weed and not ready to leave her palace. Her potential as a formidable player on the royal chessboard remains mostly unexplored.Hence, we can clearly say that despite decades of cinematic brilliance, from 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' to 'Don', the legendary actor is offered minimal dialogue and scant screen time.Must Watch