Netflix’s upcoming drama-romance The Royals was unveiled in a grand trailer launch this week, complete with opulent décor, glittering attire, and heartfelt speeches from the ensemble cast. Amidst the glamour, veteran actress Sakshi Tanwar took a moment to reflect on her powerful and personal journey in portraying a world far removed from her own.
At the launch, Sakshi candidly admitted that stepping into the shoes of royalty was a completely new experience for her—one that initially felt alien.“It wasn’t easy at all. For the longest time, I’ve played characters that are on the other side of the table. I’ve always been the ‘arm kumari’—a simple, grounded girl. This was the first time I got to step into this kind of life. I haven’t even seen this world in real life, let alone experienced it.”
She added with warmth and nostalgia,“I come from a very basic background. The characters I’ve played have always been close to that. They never required much preparation. So when I got the call for this role, I honestly couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘This can’t be true.’ I’ve never played something like this—it didn’t seem real. I was only ever a ‘Rani’ for my mom—from her bitiya rani to rani beti—that was the closest I’d come to being royalty. So thank you to Netflix, the writers, and directors for making me feel like one.”
Despite initial hesitation, Sakshi embraced the challenge—but not without struggle.“When I was shooting my scenes, I was very conscious. I didn’t know how royals think. As an actor, it’s important that whatever you’re going to say and do is already in your subconscious. But I had no reference point. That night, I was uncomfortable. I felt like I wasn’t getting it right.”
She shared a pivotal moment in her transformation:“I had to stop thinking like who I am, and start thinking like who I should be. From the moment I sat for makeup, wore the jewelry, the costume—it all started to help. Even the jewelry did its magic. When I wore those diamond sets, somehow it sent a message to my brain: ‘You are the Queen.’ I carried that energy with me to the set.”
Sakshi also spoke fondly of her time working with Zeenat Aman, who plays a key role in the series.“I feel so fortunate that most of my scenes are with Zeenat ji. She is an icon, a diva—she doesn’t even need to do anything, she just is. I learnt so much from her. I used to watch her—the way she sat, the way she spoke. I learned from everyone—the way they carried themselves. Everything was just so beautiful. For me, every scene became my preparation.”