Royal Fables criticises Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar’s series, says royals are not “poor” or “decadent” as portrayed
Netflix’s latest series The Royals, starring Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, is facing backlash from a royal heritage platform for its portrayal of modern-day Indian royalty. The show, which follows a fictional royal family navigating financial challenges in maintaining a palace, has come under fire from Royal Fables, a platform that promotes the legacy of India’s princely states.
In a detailed note shared on Instagram, Royal Fables called out the streaming giant for what it described as a “sweeping misrepresentation” of India’s royal families. “We just finished watching The Royals and immediately felt the strong urge to reach out to you on behalf of the 565 princely states of India who were portrayed fairly sweepingly in your show,” read the statement.
‘Royal families are not poor’
Royal Fables strongly contested the narrative presented in the series, particularly the depiction of royals as impoverished and resorting to bizarre ways of making money, such as selling palace artifacts or harvesting bat droppings. “Royal families are not poor. They are not selling their palaces or making money from bat poop! They are landowners and inheritors of a rich legacy that they are monetising,” the post read.
The platform emphasised that current-day royals are actively involved in preserving India’s rich heritage by maintaining centuries-old palaces, vintage cars, and traditional arts. “They have to restore a 400-year-old, 100-room monument without losing the historic essence of the property. And no caring corporate or government helps them in the process,” it added.
Bhumi Pednekar scene called “unrealistic”
A particular scene involving Bhumi Pednekar’s character gifting a priceless Raja Ravi Varma painting as a gesture to launch a homestay was also singled out. “Surely no Ravi Varma that costs hundreds of crores is ever sold. The painting would have cost 4x of her entire seed capital,” the post said, pointing out the absurdity of the plot.
Criticism of costumes and portrayal of royal lifestyle
Royal Fables also criticised the aesthetics of the series, including costume choices like “overdressed bridal jewels” and “embellished sarees,” which they argued did not reflect the understated elegance of actual royal attire. The decor — especially “ugly, red sofas” — and inaccurately portrayed polo scenes were also mocked.
They further expressed disappointment over the portrayal of royals as idle and decadent. “Present-day royals are educated and employed citizens who fight elections, become ministers, temple patrons, hoteliers, artists, run craft NGOs, empower women, are chefs, army generals… They are not decadent, feudal lords and ladies anymore,” the note concluded.
Internet reacts: Mixed opinions
While Royal Fables’ post gained attention online, the internet had a mixed reaction. Several social media users found the outrage over a fictional Netflix series misplaced and even mocked the heritage platform for its tone.
“I felt second-hand embarrassment reading this,” one Instagram user commented. Another wrote sarcastically, “Oh no… a fictitious Netflix movie didn’t portray some made-up royals authentically. Oh noooooo.”
One comment highlighted the perceived privilege of the royals: “The rich and privileged weren’t depicted accurately on screen? Cry me a river.” Another criticised the platform’s tone, writing, “The chauvinism in this post and the tone-deaf dissonance with both past and present is ASTOUNDING.”
Some even questioned whether the outrage was satire, with one user saying, “Relax. It’s fiction. Not a documentary on royal life.”
Despite the backlash, The Royals continues to trend on Netflix, gaining more attention — both from viewers and critics — for its dramatic take on royal life in modern India.
Sources By Agencies
