The Royals Season 2: Darlings Director Jasmeet K. Reen To Replace Nupur Asthana?

Netflix’s romantic comedy series The Royals is reportedly gearing up for its second season with a major change behind the camera. According to recent reports, filmmaker Jasmeet K. Reen has been brought on board to direct the upcoming instalment of the Ishaan Khatter-starrer, taking over from Nupur Asthana.

The development hints at a fresh creative direction for the Prime Video romance drama as work on Season 2 begins to gather pace.

Nupur Asthana Reportedly Exits The Royals Season 2

According to Bollywood Hungama, Nupur Asthana, who directed the first season of The Royals along with Priyanka Ghose, will not return for the second season due to prior professional commitments.

Asthana is currently said to be busy with another Netflix project, which

is being produced under Ekta Kapoor’s banner. While she moves on to that assignment, Priyanka Ghose is expected to remain associated with The Royals.

Jasmeet K. Reen, who made her directorial debut with Darlings, is now reportedly set to lead the next chapter of the series. Her debut film, starring Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah and Vijay Varma, had received wide praise for its sharp storytelling, performances and darkly comic tone.

With Reen stepping in, The Royals Season 2 is expected to bring a new creative lens to the show’s romantic and dramatic world.

The Royals Season 2 Pre-Production Begins

Reports suggest that preparations for the second season are already underway. Pre-production has reportedly begun, with the makers expected to start filming in July 2026.

While the plot details are currently being kept under wraps, the team is said to be actively developing the next instalment of the series.

Bhumi Pednekar’s Exit Sparks Buzz

The reported directorial change comes amid speculation that Bhumi Pednekar, who starred opposite Ishaan Khatter in the first season, may not return for Season 2. While there has been no official confirmation from Netflix or the makers, industry reports suggest that her possible exit could be part of a larger creative reset for the series.

If the reports turn out to be true, The Royals Season 2 may look significantly different from its first season, both in terms of cast and creative approach.

Jasmeet K. Reen’s Busy Line-Up

Apart from The Royals, Jasmeet K. Reen is also attached to another high-profile project. The filmmaker is reportedly set to direct a period drama based on the life of legendary actress Madhubala.

The film is being backed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and is expected to feature Dhurandhar actress Sara Arjun in the titular role. Reports suggest that Reen plans to complete work on The Royals Season 2 before moving on to the Madhubala biopic later this year.

With a new director reportedly stepping in and casting changes already being discussed, The Royals Season 2 appears to be entering a new phase. Fans will now be waiting for an official announcement from Netflix about the show’s cast, plot and production timeline.