The Maharani of Baroda criticises the portrayal of India’s royal heritage in the show, calling it ‘a royal ignore’ and defending the enduring role of princely families in modern India
May 31, 2025: Netflix’s series The Royals, starring Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, has come under fire for allegedly misrepresenting India’s royal heritage. Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda has joined the chorus of criticism, condemning the show’s depiction of royal families as impoverished and out-of-touch relics of a bygone era.
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Taking to Instagram, the Maharani expressed her disappointment: “The Royal Ignore. One would imagine the royals of India…would have a better chance of surviving an on-screen portrayal such as the one in The Royals. Alas, that was not to be…such is our fate, since 1947.” She lamented how stereotypes of “whiskey-soaked Rajas” and “Ranisahebs in chiffons and pearls” still dominate the popular narrative.
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A Legacy of Sacrifice and Renewal
Radhikaraje traced the royal journey back to 1947, recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s description of the “bloodless revolution” that saw 565 princely states—ruling 40% of pre-independence India—give up their thrones for the idea of a united, democratic nation. While some resisted, most embraced this uncertain future. She argued that despite these sacrifices, India’s princely families are often unfairly dismissed as relics.
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India’s Diverse Royal Tapestry
Emphasising that India’s royalty includes Brahmins, Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs, and Muslims—each contributing to India’s cultural fabric—she noted: “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.”
Women Leading the Charge
The Maharani also celebrated the leading roles played by royal women today—from running music festivals and preserving art forms to maintaining charitable institutions and local traditions like Mysore’s Dussehra and Jaipur’s Holi.
A Call for Respect and Recognition
Despite holding no official privileges, she said, these families remain “unofficial custodians of local heritage,” cherished by their communities. Funerals for royal family members still draw crowds from distant villages, who see them not merely as aristocrats but as integral to their collective identity.
She concluded by highlighting the new generation of royals—educated, globally aware, and determined to make their heritage sustainable and inclusive for modern India.
About ‘The Royals’
The Netflix series, created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy, follows a fictional royal family navigating modern challenges. While Netflix has already announced a second season, the backlash—including Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad’s pointed observations—adds a powerful voice to the debate on authentic portrayals of India’s regal past.