We sat down with Priyanka Ghose, director of Netflix's upcoming show “Royals” to discuss her journey, challenges and experiences. From romance to royalty, you can enjoy exclusive peeks into this most awaited series.
How do you manage the complexity of a performance like “Royal” with a nonlinear shooting schedule and multiple storylines?
To me, directing a show like “Royal” is like going to a marathon. You have to pace yourself, manage your energy and track multiple elements. A long-term 70-80-day schedule, maintaining synchronicity and emotional continuity for each character is a challenge. I have to make sure every actor knows where their characters come from and where they are going. It's a complex task, but the more I do, the more excited I get. I love the challenge of bringing everything together seamlessly.
So, what did the “Royals” attract you?
I'm attracted to the Royals because it provides a beautiful canvas to explore multiple love stories set in the rich world of modern India, where the Royals meet entrepreneurship. After making the espionage thriller, I thought it was an opportunity to shift gears and bend my creative muscles in a completely different direction. The contrast is exactly what I need – it allows me to distinguish from one genre and then dive into something new and exciting.
How are you ready to coach rom-coms like “Royals”?
Converting from an action thriller to a rom-com is a deliberate choice. To prepare for the “royal”, I did a lot of reading and research to understand how to truly represent the Indian royal family. But Rom-Com is natural to me as a genre. I've grown up with love stories and watched movies like “Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge” and “Notting Hill”. I even worked in a love story, “Broken But Beautiful Season 3”, which is a very different love story. I think the more challenges you have as a filmmaker, the more you will find yourself and realize more inside.
What is your experience working with talented crew members?
Working with talented actors like Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter is a treat for me as a director. Each character is written to have a significant impact on the story and other characters, and I know I will be able to attract top-notch actors to play these roles. It's a dream come true to bring such a talented actor together.
I left the “Royal” – to build a new family, not just make friends. I am now close to all the actors, especially Ishaan, who is inseparable from me, and bhumi, who is dear friend. I am in awe of Zeenat Ma'am and Sakshi Ma'am, the real superstars of the movie Golden Age, and I truly admire and respect it. My appreciation for this actor is that they are willing to work together and abandon their superstar status to create something together, which comes from experience only.
What core information or emotional connection do you want your audience to have in “Royal”?
I think the audience will resonate with the universal emotional and family connections in the “Royals.” You will see all kinds of relationships – siblings, mothers, grandparents and granddaughters, work partners – making it relevant. The show explores the royals in India today, but essentially it is about loving your family and how love can help overcome the challenges. I believe this is a universal emotion that everyone will take away- Love does win.
Can you share some of the BTS moments from the filming of “Royals”?
Filming the “Royal” is a wild journey, crazy fun scenes, unprecedented misfortune and challenges like extreme weather and working with animals. I had to keep the animals safe, so I would climb up the ladder to give instructions and make modifications on his elephant. In some scenes, Ishaan and Bhumi have to ride together without a saddle, so they have to stay emotional and pay attention to the comfort of the horse. We spent three months in Rajasthan, celebrating Holi and playing with the pony – an incredible experience.
