Style Files Decoding: The Royals

Web series are known to stand out for their gripping storytelling, compelling acting, and excellent screenplay, but very few shows make a mark through fashion in the narrative. The Royals, starring Ishaan Khattar, Bhumi Pednekar, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Dino Morea, and Nora Fatehi, was a visual spectacle celebrating royalty with extravagance. From grand sets infusing old-world charm with contemporary aesthetics to fashion exuding opulence, the show turned every frame into a fashion red carpet.

All the credit goes to Aastha Sharma and her excellent team, who styled each character in the series, whether main or supporting, with an eye that reflected their personalities. From Bhumi’s boardroom-ready wardrobe to Ishaan’s transformative closet within the plot, everyone reflected their character arc. Aastha curated a fabulous mix of Indian and global labels like Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Falguni Shane Peacock, Rohit Bal, Shantnu Nikhil, Alexandre Vauthier, Anamika Khanna and many more, carefully curated a visual treat where no two characters looked like each other.

While the cast gave a performance that will stay in our minds for a long time, their breathtaking wardrobe will make some space in our personal preferences. We have decoded the style files of the characters from the series that perfectly aligned their personalities.

Ishaan Khattar 

Courtesy: Aastha Sharma

Ishaan Khatter, as Yuvraj Aviraaj Singh or fondly called ‘Fizzy’, is the crown prince and the future king of Morpur, whose intensity and fashion are hard to miss. His wardrobe captures the spirit of modern Maharaja’s dress code, which was reimaged with contemporary times without compromising his legacy. Look at his high turtle necks and sharply-tailored regal bandhgalas; his wardrobe amalgamated traditional and modern masculinity.

Bhumi Pednekar

Courtesy: Aastha Sharma

If ‘Fizzy’ provided a classy yet modern edge, Sophia Kanmani Shekhar brought a powerful corporate presence to the room. Bhumi Pednekar became the unapologetic CEO, who was styled like a true modern woman, who is fearless with the choices she makes, yet showcases her feminine softness. From well-tailored suits and effortless dresses to traditional Indian wear, Bhumi’s versatile clothing showcased how today’s woman fluidly moves between embodying her culture and her career.

Sakshi Tanwar

Courtesy: Aastha Sharma

As Maharani Padmaja “Paddy” Singh of Morpur, Sakshi Tanwar showed how to showcase power with grace. Her presence was sharp yet soft, which extended to her wardrobe. Draped in pastel-hues sarees and heirloom jewellery, each look has struck a balance of understated, regality and refinement that didn’t need a special announcement to make.

Zeenat Aman

Courtesy: Aastha Sharma

Making her grand comeback and debut on the OTT platform, Zeenat Aman, embraced Maaji Sahiba, a true matriarch of the royal house, whose wardrobe is as commanding as her presence. Her styling blended flamboyant, sharp, unapologetic, yet easy-going throughout the series. Her elaborative kaftans, sarees with trench coats, quirky sunglasses and her regal gold cane elaborated her character thousandfold, highlighting her authority and eccentricity.

Vihaan Samrat

Courtesy: Aastha Sharma

As the second-born of the royal siblings, Yuvraj Digvijay Singh, played by Vihaan Samrat, blends a playful charm with the character’s nobility, compared to his elder brother. His wardrobe somewhat echoed Ishaan’s energy when it came to tuxedos, well-tailored suits, and turtle necks, but the distinction was in the details. Aastha Sharma curated Digvijay’s looks with a bolder colour palette, eclectic accessories, and layered jewellery, which reflected his family’s legacy with his own rebellion.

Kavya Trehan

Courtesy: Aastha Sharma

Fondly known as Jinni, Yuvarani Divyaranjini Singh of Morpur brought a versatile sartorial spark to every frame she was in. Kavya’s closet was a vivid mix of chic and drama, everything you would expect a modern-day princess to wear. Think of vibrant printed sarees, over-the-top dresses, of-the-moment accessories and statement footwear, she ensured she made a statement with every entrance.

Nora Fatehi

A character who was impossible to overlook was Princess Ayesha Dhondi, aka Nora Fatehi had a moment of impact when she appeared onscreen. From her introduction at the masquerade ball in the dramatic red Falguni Shane Peacock ensemble to the striking magenta-pink saree for the coronation episode from Faabiiana, her wardrobe felt like an extension of her character, i.e, bold, commanding, royal and graceful. 

Dino Morea

Here comes the handsome and charismatic Nawab Salauddin Khan, played by Dino Morea, who is the perfect dose of indulgence to the show. With his impossible to ignore presence, quirky wits and unique closets that scream extravagance, the character truly becomes unpredictable and desirable amongst the rest of the cast.