Bhumi Pednekar Exits The Royals Season 2 After Season 1 Trolling? Here’s What We Know

Netflix’s royal drama The Royals is reportedly set to return for a second season, but the new chapter may unfold without one of its lead actors. Bhumi Pednekar, who starred in the first season alongside Ishaan Khatter, has reportedly exited the series.

The show also marked veteran actress Zeenat Aman’s OTT debut and featured a world built around royalty, romance, family politics and privilege. According to a report in Midday, The Royals was renewed for another season soon after its release. However, the upcoming instalment is expected to move away from the central romantic track and focus more on the royal family and the larger world introduced in season one.

Why Bhumi Pednekar Is Not Returning To The Royals Season 2

A source close to the production

told the publication that the decision was not the result of any fallout with Bhumi. Instead, the makers are reportedly allowing the story to move forward in a different direction.

The source said, “When you do a romance, it is the story that leads. When the show came out, what resonated with the audience was the family, Ishaan, Sakshi, Zeenat, and the world of The Royals, which feels different. We left season one at an unresolved romance. There was no decision to carry it forward. There was no fight with Bhumi. The makers are simply letting the story lead forward organically in the second season.”

As per the report, season two will continue to explore the world created in the first instalment, but the romantic storyline may no longer remain the emotional centre of the narrative.

Bhumi Pednekar Shifts Focus To Darker Projects

Bhumi has reportedly shifted her focus towards projects with darker, more layered storytelling. The actress is said to be in talks for a courtroom drama from the makers of Haq, the Yami Gautam-starrer that released in 2025.

The source further added that Bhumi is also set to star opposite Imran Khan in what insiders describe as his long-awaited comeback film for Netflix. The project is currently being kept under wraps and has reportedly been in development for some time.

She is also expected to begin work on Daldal 2, a project that is said to be closer to the intense space she has increasingly been drawn to in recent years.

Bhumi Had Spoken About Criticism After The Royals

Following the release of The Royals, Bhumi had spoken about dealing with criticism and online commentary. During her appearance on Sit With Hitlist, the actress admitted that the reactions had affected her deeply.

She said, “The noise became so loud that I couldn’t hear my own creative voice anymore. When you are told every day that you don’t look like yourself,’ it starts to seep in. I felt numb.”

In recent months, Bhumi also took time away from work. During her break, she travelled, read books, launched her mineral water brand and completed a course at Harvard University.

While Bhumi may not return for The Royals Season 2, the series is expected to continue exploring the royal world and family dynamics that connected with audiences in its first season.