Zeenat Aman fans have been eagerly awaiting her return to acting ever since Netflix India announced its new series The Royals. The veteran actor is making a comeback after nearly six years, her last appearance being in the 2019 film Panipat, where she portrayed Sakina Begum. Sharing a still from The Royals on Instagram, Zeenat wrote a heartfelt caption reflecting on her experience working on the Netflix series.
The caption of the post started with an apology towards fans who are waiting for an update about the documentary on The Kapoors. She said, “Some of you must be awaiting my series on the Kapoors, but since I’m quite obviously in the midst of a promotional blitzkrieg for The Royals, it has to wait another week or so.” She then proceeded to talk about her upcoming series and clarified that the post is something she wished to do personally and not because of any studio directive.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO
Zeenat Aman talked about the struggles of shooting for long hours at this age and said, “The truth is that as I get older, shoot schedules leave me exhausted. At the end of a 10- to 12-hour workday that involves tedious time in the makeup chair, heavy costumes and jewellery, searing heat and frenzied activity, I am left with swollen ankles and drooping eyes.”
However, she mentioned that seeing herself on the screen is worth all the pain she has to go through and described her characters as “entitled, queenly, tart and intimidating.” The veteran actor then focused on appreciating her young co-star Ishaan Khatter and announced her support for him. Zeenat wrote, “Now, while every member of the cast and crew did their best to ensure my comfort, I must admit I am most charmed by the young Mr. Khatter. Here is a boy whose star is on the rise, yet he made it a point to prioritise my wellbeing. From assisting me down the stairs to my vehicle, to bringing me fresh ginger ale to sip on between takes and conjuring up cushions for the uncomfortable plastic chair I had to sit on during readings, he exhibited the courtesies and grace I thought had become virtues of the past. I also witnessed his immense dedication to his work as he honed his horse-riding and dancing skills to really embody his royal character.”
She added, “I wanted to post about Ishaan many months ago, when I returned from our last schedule in Jaipur. But both Zahaan and Cara insisted that I wait until we were closer to the release date to share my thoughts. Prudent of them, since my sentiments remains the same but perhaps this timing is better to air them. @ishaankhatter, you have an ally in me and I give you all my blessings for a successful career (and meaningful personal life).”
The cast of The Royals is truly star-studded, featuring actors such as Zeenat Aman, Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar, Nora Fatehi, Dino Morea, Milind Soman, Chunky Panday, and Sakshi Tanwar — to name just a few.
