June 5, 2025: Ishaan Khatter, whose ripped physique in Netflix’s The Royals became a viral sensation, has now revealed he was uncomfortable with the number of shirtless scenes in the show — and even argued with the makers about it.
Speaking to Mashable India, the actor opened up about the creative differences during filming. “The character doesn’t wear a shirt… but still, I fought with them,” Ishaan confessed. “I’d ask, ‘Does he really need to be shirtless in this scene? He can wear a shirt here!’”
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The actor joked that the crew would come up with “creative excuses” like wrapping him in a blanket just to justify the lack of clothing, adding that while he enjoyed the role, some moments felt unnecessary.
From Abs to Emaciated: Ishaan Talks Body Transformation for Homebound
The actor also revealed the drastic physical transformation he underwent for his upcoming film Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan. Ishaan said he had to shed 8–10 kilos and completely lose his muscle mass for the role.
“Neeraj told me, ‘I don’t want to see a single sinew on your body!’” Ishaan recalled. He also trained in horse-riding for The Royals, though he found it less scary than expected.
Mixed Reviews, Yet Renewed for Season 2
Despite its high-profile cast — including Bhumi Pednekar, Nora Fatehi, Sakshi Tanwar, Dino Morea, and Zeenat Aman — The Royals received mixed reviews, with criticism aimed at its weak screenplay and lack of chemistry between the leads.
Still, the buzz around the show was strong enough that Netflix has greenlit Season 2.