"There was no decision to carry it forward."
Bollywood star Bhumi Pednekar has officially departed from the hit Netflix series The Royals as production begins on season two.
The show is reportedly undergoing a major creative transformation from a romantic comedy into an intense family drama.
A report confirmed that the actress will not return for the second instalment of the series.
Production insiders suggest the makers now want to focus on the complex dynamics of the central royal family members.
This means the story will revolve more around characters played by Ishaan Khatter, Zeenat Aman, and Sakshi Tanwar.
A source explained that the change in direction was inspired by what audiences liked most about the first season, saying:
“When you do a romance, it is the story that leads.”
Audiences reportedly connected more with the broader world of the palace than the central romantic subplot involving Pednekar.
“When the show came out, what resonated was the family — Ishaan, Sakshi, Zeenat, and the world of The Royals — which feels different.”
The first season concluded with the relationship between the two main characters remaining in an unresolved state.
“We left season one with an unresolved romance. There was no decision to carry it forward.”
The production team clarified that there was no conflict or fallout with the departing leading lady during the process.
“There was no fight with Bhumi.
“The makers are simply letting the story lead forward organically in the second season.”
The Royals emerged as one of the most-watched programmes on the streaming platform during 2025.
However, the debut season received middling reviews and faced heavy criticism regarding the performances of the main cast members.
Pednekar previously admitted that the negative feedback caused her to experience significant doubt about her own professional acting skills.
She starred as a startup founder who collaborated with a prince to launch a hospitality business in his palace.
Despite the mixed critical reception, the streaming giant greenlit a second season just days after the initial release date.
Bhumi is now focusing her energy on more layered and intense roles within a completely different cinematic genre.
The actress is set to reprise her role as a troubled police officer in the second season of Daldal.
This project on Amazon Prime Video aligns with the gritty and serious space she has recently started to explore.
Bhumi Pednekar is also expected to feature alongside Imran Khan in his highly anticipated comeback film for the Netflix platform.
The upcoming film has been in development for some time and currently remains under a very strict wrap.
Fans of the series are currently waiting for more updates regarding the returning cast members for the new season.
Netflix has not yet announced an official release date for the next chapter of this royal family saga.
Many viewers are curious to see how the narrative will progress without the presence of the original female lead.
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