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Bhumi Pednekar Says ‘The Royals’ Backlash Led to 9-Month Hiatus, Sets Staged Return

She used the break for travel, a Harvard course, and reduced public appearances.

Overview

  • Pednekar says heavy trolling and criticism of her May 2025 Netflix series The Royals left her emotionally depleted and prompted a voluntary pause from sets since June.
  • She describes spending the hiatus reading, watching films, traveling, and studying at Harvard, while returning signing amounts and declining cheques, award shows, and fashion events.
  • Prime Video’s crime thriller Daldal is slated to premiere on January 30, with Pednekar starring as Mumbai cop Rita Ferreira.
  • She plans to go back to set in March to film a theatrical courtroom drama that she says addresses sexual violence faced by women and marginalized communities.
  • Framing the decision as a recalibration after a decade of nonstop work, she says she feared becoming mediocre and even revisited her past performances to reassess her craft.