Zeenat Aman is a true ‘maharani’: Director of Netflix’s The Royals, Priyanka Ghose

There's much anticipation around the release of The Royals, a Netflix series, that’s star-studded with Zeenat Aman, Ishaan Khatter, and Bhumi Pednekar in lead roles. 

A modern-day Indian royal rom-com directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, The Royals is expected to be messy, emotional, and seriously entertaining, the synopsis claims. 

Having earlier been associated with thriller projects like Aarya Season 1 (as an associate director) and the blockbuster The Night Manager, as the director, Kolkata-born Ghose’s switch to rom-com is all in the pursuit of doing something different.

“I actively look out for different projects. I generally end up spending a lot of time making one thing—often, it goes on for two years. You get jaded with the genre you are focusing on, so I need to switch gears,” Ghose tells YS Life.

According to her, the diversity in projects helps her be excited about the next thing. “Somehow, it helps me push my boundaries and allows me to step out of my comfort zone. It then reflects in my work.” 

While taking on The Royals was fun, it was equally challenging to dabble with an ensemble cast, each having fleshed-out characters. “It was an uphill task. As fun and frolicky as the material looks, the harder it is to make. The challenge with The Royals was incredibly high because there are multiple stories. There are so many characters with their individual arcs,” she shares. 

It started with writing—deciding the importance of a given track and also figuring out when the other tracks come in, collide, or merge. “One thing is to write and shoot, but when it's about editing, you realise you need to pace it out, and it requires a little more priority,” she adds. 

Behind the scenes 

With young royals like Gauravi Kumari and Padmanabh Singh or Pacho making headlines on social media for their fashion or charity event appearances, there's growing interest among audiences to know more about their lives. 

Thus, the show’s makers thought it was the right subject to tap into. “There is mystery and curiosity; everyone wants to know a little bit more about the world of royals. Even I was curious when this came my way. I had to do a lot of research and find out more about their everyday life,” reveals Ghose.

When they set out for the first round of recce to hunt for locations, Ghose and her team spoke to the staff of royal families to understand their rituals, norms, and everyday life. 

Next, finding the right cast to bring the story to life, which, Ghose confesses, was another uphill battle. “Rangita Pritish Nandy (creator of the show) and I went all out. I recall spending November 2023 going door to door, meeting actors, and narrating the script. You kind of knew the actors you wanted, but it takes a while before you get there,” she says. 

The most talked-about part of this show is, of course, Zeenat Aman’s comeback on screen. And Ghose admits that it was one of the highlights of her filming experience. 

“I was in awe of her. There's a reputation that precedes her, and I was so excited to get the opportunity to work with her. She's like a child despite the experience and stardom she has. It still felt so fresh every time she walked on set—she always had that quest to do better,” Ghose says.

She adds, “Despite the kind of grace and aura she has, she's like a true maharani, and at the same time, a child with energy and hunger to prove her worth even now.” 

Passion and perseverance 

Ghose’s career trajectory has been stellar, helming projects like The Night Manager, which was nominated for the Emmys, Broken But Beautiful Season 3, Aarya Season 1, and now The Royals. 

As a cinephile, she was always drawn to cinema but didn’t know she would make a career out of it. “Since I was a teenager, I have always been into performing arts. In college, I did many professional dance shows. A large part of me wanted to learn the craft of filmmaking, but I never had the opportunity,” she says. 

Her first stint with films was as an intern with Mira Nair on The Namesake. Being on set, working with the team, and gaining exposure to the world got her excited about films. “Eventually, when I moved to Bombay at the age of 21, I wasn't sure if I would become a director, but I started assisting directors and figuring my way out,” Ghose shares. 

Rush, Karzzzz, and Anjaana Anjaani are some of the projects she assisted directors on before she joined Ram Madhvani full-time to direct ad films.

Several years later, in 2018, Madhvani asked her to be the associate director on Aarya Season 1. And since then, there's been no looking back. 

“I have been privileged to direct one show after another, each being so different. That's why I don't get stereotyped; plus, my work doesn't get monotonous. That excitement and challenge give me wings to fly. Then I'm able to explore a new genre, do it well, and I try to outdo myself,” says Ghose. 

Her next project is an action thriller under the banner of Roy Kapur Films. 

The push of OTT

Ghose admits that many, including her, have the opportunity to push their boundaries in filmmaking, thanks to the emergence of OTT. “It has given makers a chance to experiment and explore the craft a little beyond success. One was earlier only interested in box office collections and trying to make it massy.” 

She adds, ‘The beauty of OTT is that you will still have to make it massy if you want to reach out to a wider audience. Yet, you have some scope to be nuanced and play with layers a little more by virtue of the length and duration of the format.”

Today, Ghose says, the audience is no longer limited to Indian theatres. Instead, many platforms are releasing films worldwide, widening the reach of the content. 

“It was an eye-opener when we got nominated for the Emmys for The Night Manager. We realised the number of people who had watched our show and resonated with our work. Thanks to OTT, a global audience is introduced to Indian shows, makers, and stories,” concludes Ghose.

(The story was updated with more information.)