by Netflix’s The Royals is reportedly facing an unexpected production setback just as its second season gets underway. The romantic comedy-drama, which became one of the more visible Indian streaming titles of 2025, has encountered a major roadblock during its latest schedule in Jaisalmer, with director Jasmeet K. Reen reportedly walking out of the project midway through filming.
The development marks another significant change for a season that was already expected to look considerably different from its predecessor. From a change in the directorial team and the reported exit of Bhumi Pednekar to the addition of Sini Shetty and Gurfateh Pirzada, The Royals Season 2 has been undergoing a substantial creative transition.
According to a September 26 report by Bollywood Hungama, Reen has reportedly exited the series following an alleged altercation with producer Rangita Nandy. The report claims that the incident took place during the Jaisalmer schedule and that an exchange between the two was allegedly audible to members of the crew because Nandy reportedly spoke to Reen over a loudspeaker. The circumstances have not been independently established by Netflix or the production in a public statement, and the account remains based on sources cited by the publication. (Bollywood Hungama)
The reported fallout has apparently resulted in the Jaisalmer shoot being stalled, with several cast and crew members said to have returned to Mumbai. Meanwhile, Nitya Mehra, who has also been directing the second season alongside Reen, could potentially take charge of the remaining episodes or schedules if Reen does not return.
The situation adds an unexpected layer of uncertainty to the highly anticipated second season.
Jasmeet K. Reen’s Reported Exit Changes the Production Picture
Jasmeet K. Reen’s involvement in The Royals Season 2 had itself represented a major creative shift.
Reen, who made her feature directorial debut with the 2022 Netflix film Darlings, was brought in to take over directing responsibilities from Nupur Asthana. Asthana had co-directed the first season with Priyanka Ghose. Reports in May 2026 said that Asthana was stepping away because of prior commitments, while Ghose was expected to remain associated with the franchise. (Bollywood Hungama)
Reen’s appointment immediately generated interest because Darlings established her as a filmmaker capable of handling stories that combine interpersonal relationships with darker emotional and social themes. Her arrival suggested that the second season could bring a somewhat different sensibility to the world established in the first installment.
However, the latest development has potentially disrupted that transition.
Bollywood Hungama reports that Reen walked out midway through production following the alleged altercation with Nandy. The report further states that there is currently no confirmation of Reen returning to the set. A crew member quoted by the publication expressed hope that she would eventually return, while acknowledging that the situation could only become clearer when production resumes. (Bollywood Hungama)
It is important to distinguish the reported claims from confirmed information. Neither the alleged circumstances of the confrontation nor the final directorial arrangement for the complete season has been publicly confirmed by the production in the reports currently available.
That distinction becomes particularly relevant when discussing developments involving working relationships behind a major streaming production.
The Jaisalmer Schedule Was Already Part of a Larger Rajasthan Shoot
The reported disruption comes only days after production officially moved into its filming phase.
PNC Media and Entertainment Limited, formerly known as Pritish Nandy Communications, announced on September 18 that principal photography for Season 2 had commenced. The announcement described the series as a returning romantic comedy and confirmed that production had begun. (BazaarWatch)
Around the same time, Ishaan Khatter shared glimpses from Rajasthan, including photographs of a heritage haveli and videos showing him practising horse riding. The preparation was understood to be connected with his return as Prince Aviraaj Singh, the royal heir at the centre of the story. (Bollywood Hungama)
Nora Fatehi also confirmed her return to the series through behind-the-scenes glimpses from the shoot. She reprises her role as Ayesha Dhondi, linking the new season to the ensemble and character network established previously. (Bollywood Hungama)
The production was subsequently expected to move through different Rajasthan locations, including Udaipur. Reports published before the Jaisalmer setback had indicated that the second season would begin shooting in Udaipur, highlighting the scale of the Rajasthan schedule. (Bollywood Hungama)
The reported Jaisalmer stoppage therefore does not necessarily mean that production of the entire season has been permanently halted. Rather, the immediate issue appears to concern the current schedule and the uncertainty surrounding the directorial setup going forward.
Nitya Mehra Could Take Over the Season
One of the biggest questions now concerns Nitya Mehra.
According to Bollywood Hungama, Mehra was already directing the show alongside Reen. If Reen does not return, Mehra may have to assume responsibility for the entire season. (Bollywood Hungama)
This would mean another major adjustment behind the camera.
The change would also be particularly notable because Season 2 was already moving away from the directorial structure of the first season. The original installment was directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, while the new season brought in a different combination of filmmakers.
Having one director continue with a project after another director’s mid-production departure can involve practical and creative challenges. A television or streaming series requires continuity not only in performances but also in visual language, tone, staging, editing decisions and character interpretation.
For The Royals, that continuity could be especially important because the series combines several different storytelling elements. It has romance at its centre, but it also operates as a family drama and comedy set against a fictional royal household adapting to contemporary life.
If Mehra takes over the remaining production, audiences may ultimately see whether the transition produces a noticeable difference in the finished season.
What Made The Royals a Streaming Success?
The stakes surrounding Season 2 are connected to the performance of the first season.
The Royals premiered on Netflix on May 9, 2025. The series followed Prince Aviraaj Singh, played by Ishaan Khatter, as he navigated the financial problems facing his royal family. His world collided with that of Sophia Shekhar, a self-made entrepreneur played by Bhumi Pednekar. (Netflix)
The premise deliberately placed traditional royalty alongside contemporary entrepreneurship.
Aviraaj belonged to an aristocratic world struggling to maintain its relevance and financial stability, while Sophia represented a modern business-driven approach to opportunity. Their relationship became the emotional engine of the show, but the series also invested heavily in the royal family’s internal relationships.
Netflix’s official description frames the story around the meeting between a charming prince and a self-made businesswoman, with romance and ambition colliding in the process. (Netflix)
The series quickly found an international streaming audience.
According to Pritish Nandy Communications, The Royals entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English Shows at No. 3 shortly after its launch, recording more than three million views across 43 countries at the time of the announcement. (Pritish Nandy Communications)
The show’s streaming momentum continued beyond its opening week. Forbes reported that it remained on Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English list for four consecutive weeks, including a sixth-place position during the week ending June 1, 2025. (Forbes)
That performance helps explain why the second season carries considerable attention.
The challenge for the new installment is not simply returning to a familiar title. It is continuing a property that already established a recognisable combination of glamour, romance, family dynamics and royal spectacle.
Season 2 Is Already Undergoing a Major Cast Transformation
The reported production problem arrives against the backdrop of considerable casting changes.
Bhumi Pednekar, who played Sophia in Season 1, is not returning for the second season. Her departure had already created questions about how the story would evolve without the central romance that shaped much of the first installment.
Earlier reports indicated that the creative team wanted to take the story in a different direction rather than continue the same romantic storyline. Those reports described a greater emphasis on the royal family and its dynamics. (Cinema Express)
The new season instead introduces Sini Shetty as a new female lead.
Shetty, who was crowned Miss India World 2022, joins Ishaan Khatter as part of the new central storyline. Gurfateh Pirzada is also joining the cast, with reports describing the three actors as being at the centre of a new love triangle. (Bollywood Hungama)
This does not mean that Shetty is replacing Pednekar’s character. Available reports describe her as playing a new character rather than stepping into the role of Sophia.
That distinction is significant because Season 2 appears to be positioning itself as a new chapter rather than attempting to recreate the exact formula of Season 1.
Ishaan Khatter Remains at the Centre
Despite the changes surrounding him, Ishaan Khatter remains the show’s key returning actor.
Khatter reprises the role of Aviraaj Singh, the prince whose relationship with his family’s legacy and responsibilities formed a central part of the first season.
His presence provides continuity between the two installments, even as the supporting romantic dynamic changes.
His recent social media activity has also given viewers some of the earliest glimpses of the new production. The actor shared photographs of a heritage property and videos of himself practising horse riding while in Rajasthan. His caption, “Lock in. Log out. See y’all on the other side,” accompanied the behind-the-scenes post. (Bollywood Hungama)
The horse-riding preparation is particularly fitting for Aviraaj, whose identity in the series is closely tied to his position as a young royal heir.
The images also reinforced the visual connection between the series and Rajasthan’s historic architecture and landscapes.
Nora Fatehi Returns as Ayesha Dhondi
Another familiar face returning for Season 2 is Nora Fatehi.
Fatehi returns as Ayesha Dhondi and has already shared glimpses from her shoot diaries. Her involvement provides another link to the original ensemble while the central romantic setup changes around Aviraaj. (Bollywood Hungama)
The return of established characters alongside new faces is likely to be an important part of how Season 2 maintains continuity.
The first season featured a large ensemble that included Sakshi Tanwar, Zeenat Aman, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea, Milind Soman and others. Netflix’s official listing identifies the series as a romantic comedy built around the collision between royalty and the modern business world. (Netflix)
With Season 2 adding Sini Shetty and Gurfateh Pirzada while retaining several familiar performers, the show is effectively attempting to refresh its world without abandoning its established identity.
Why the Director Change Matters
A director’s role in a streaming series extends far beyond deciding how individual scenes are filmed.
The director influences performances, pacing, visual atmosphere, scene construction and the way characters interact with their environment. In a series as stylised as The Royals, those decisions can have an especially visible effect.
The first season established an aesthetic built around palaces, elaborate costumes, modern luxury, romantic locations and the contrast between traditional aristocracy and contemporary ambition.
Season 2 was already expected to have a new creative voice through Reen’s involvement. If Mehra now assumes sole directorial responsibility, the production could undergo another creative adjustment.
That does not automatically determine what the finished series will look like. Many television and streaming productions involve multiple directors or changes during production, and the final creative product also depends on the writers, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors and other department heads.
Nevertheless, the reported circumstances make the transition an important production development to watch.
The Reported Stoppage Comes at a Sensitive Point
The timing of the Jaisalmer setback makes it particularly significant.
Production has only recently begun. The official production announcement came on September 18, while reports about the new cast and Udaipur schedule emerged around the same period. (BazaarWatch)
That means the show is still in the early stages of principal photography.
A disruption at this stage can potentially require adjustments to schedules, locations, availability and the division of directing responsibilities. However, the precise impact on the overall production timeline has not been publicly established.
According to the latest Bollywood Hungama report, the next schedule is expected to begin in Udaipur. The publication says the immediate question is whether Reen will return or whether Mehra will continue without her. (Bollywood Hungama)
Until the production makes an official announcement, reports about delays, changes or the final directorial structure should therefore be treated as developing information.
What Happens Next for The Royals Season 2?
For viewers, the most immediate question is whether the reported setback will affect the release timeline.
At present, the available reports do not establish a revised release date resulting from the Jaisalmer disruption.
What is clear is that Season 2 is already in production and that the project has undergone several changes before this latest development. The directorial team has changed from the first season, Bhumi Pednekar is not returning, Sini Shetty has joined as a new female lead, Gurfateh Pirzada has been added, and established performers including Ishaan Khatter and Nora Fatehi are returning. (Bollywood Hungama)
The Jaisalmer incident, if the reported account is ultimately borne out, represents another major turning point in that process.
For now, the production appears to be heading toward its next Rajasthan schedule, with Udaipur expected to be the next major location. Whether Reen eventually returns, whether Mehra takes over the season alone, and whether the reported disruption creates any broader scheduling consequences remain open questions.
A New Chapter for the Netflix Series
The story of The Royals Season 2 has been evolving well before cameras rolled.
The first season established a world where old royalty met modern ambition. Its popularity gave Netflix and its creators an opportunity to expand that world, but the second season has chosen to do so through substantial changes rather than simply reproducing the first chapter.
The departure of Bhumi Pednekar changes the show’s central romantic equation. The arrival of Sini Shetty and Gurfateh Pirzada creates a new trio around Ishaan Khatter. Nora Fatehi’s return provides continuity, while the involvement of Jasmeet K. Reen initially promised a different directorial perspective.
Now, the reported Jaisalmer incident has introduced another question over who will ultimately guide the series creatively.
For audiences, the final outcome will only become clear when production progresses and Netflix eventually reveals more about the new season.
For the moment, the confirmed picture is that The Royals Season 2 is in production, while the latest reports point to a significant disruption during the Jaisalmer schedule. The allegations surrounding the reported confrontation remain attributed claims rather than established facts, and there has been no publicly confirmed final decision on Reen’s return.
What happens next could shape not only the production process but also the creative continuity of one of Netflix India’s most visible recent romantic comedy dramas.
With Rajasthan continuing to serve as the backdrop and Aviraaj Singh returning to the centre of the story, The Royals Season 2 still has plenty of royal intrigue ahead. But after the latest development in Jaisalmer, the biggest drama surrounding the series is currently happening behind the camera.
