The Royals: Maharani Of Baroda Criticizes Ishaan Khatter-Bhumi Pednekar's Show
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Baroda's Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad shared her thoughts after watching Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar starrer series 'The Royals'.
'The Royals', starring Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, premiered on Netflix on May 9. The series, directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, received mixed reviews from critics upon its release. A few days ago, the makers of the show announced thee second season of The Royals. Now, the Maharani of Baroda Radhikaraje Gaekwad shared her thoughts about the show after watching it. She expressed her disappointment over how the ladies of the royal family were presented, and also stated the history and contributions of the royals in India.
Maharani of Baroda Radhikaraje Gaekwad penned a lengthy note on Instagram, the headline of which read, 'The Royal Ignore." Expressing her thoughts about the show, she wrote, 'One would imagine the royals of India, a community abundantly chronicled, photographed, biographed, and today well positioned in a range of arenas 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 be and such is our fate, since 1947."
She criticized how, after India's independence, political propaganda created negative stereotypes of royals- portraying Rajas 'soaked in whiskey', and Ranis as shallow and materialistic, in 'chiffons and pearls'. She said that the portrayal still unfairly define how Indian royalty is perceived today- often reduced to outdated stereotypes.
Radhikaraje Gaekwad then went on to list several good things the royals did pre- and post-independence, and highlighted their contribution to fields such as governance, hospitality, education, and conservation. 'India has also seen some of their finest statesmen, diplomats, wildlife conservationists, bureaucrats, army officers, educationists, sportsmen, hoteliers and entrepreneurs emerge from royalty and today our palaces, forts and museums are perhaps the last few sentinels of India's undiluted, apolitical patronage and cultural history, all maintained in our personal capacity. Yet after all these decades our own country continues to view us – all 565 families and a few thousand nobility, with an odd mixture of awe, ignorance and distaste," she wrote.
She explained that while most royals in India have no role in society today, no privileges or official titles, yet they remain relevant and respected in their homeland, and included in festivities. She added that the young royals are also returning to their roots, armed with degrees from universities around the world, and proudly straddle the two worlds, contributing to promoting their legacy after coming back to the country.
Sharing the note, Radhikaraje Gaekwad wrote in the caption, 'What watching The Royals elicited in me… #gaekwadsofbaroda #royal #family #india #history #rajput #maratha #sikh."
The Royals features an ensemble cast including Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea, and Milind Soman. The story centers on a modern-day Indian royal family facing financial difficulties, whose circumstances change dramatically when the heir partners with a hospitality entrepreneur to transform their ancestral palace into a high-end resort.
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