Ishaan Khatter reveals clashing with The Royals makers over objectification in the show: ‘I could have worn a shirt in certain scenes’ |
Ishaan Khatter is steadily carving a niche for himself on the global stage—not just with his performances, but also with the principles he brings to his craft. From his attention-grabbing Hollywood debut to standing ovations at Cannes, the young actor is unafraid to speak up, even when it means challenging creative decisions. He recently opened up about pushing back against objectification in The Royals, and undergoing a dramatic physical transformation for his next film, Homebound.Speaking to Mashable India, Ishaan shared that while the character he played was written as someone who rarely wore a shirt, he did push back during filming. He explained that he had discussions with the makers on certain days, insisting that being shirtless wasn’t necessary for some scenes. Despite the creative ways the team tried to justify it—like casually using a blanket during sleep sequences—Ishaan admitted he stuck to his commitment but made sure to voice his discomfort. Ultimately, he said he enjoyed the experience, even with those moments of disagreement.The Royals featured a star-studded cast including Bhumi Pednekar, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea, and Milind Soman. Despite facing negative reviews from critics—who slammed the show for its shallow plot and underwhelming performances—it managed to become one of Netflix’s most-watched shows, proving that star power and glossy appeal still draw in viewers.For his role in The Royals, Ishaan underwent intense training to build muscle and maintain a sculpted physique for his shirtless scenes. However, his next project demanded a complete physical transformation. For Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, Ishaan had to shed all that muscle to portray an everyday, relatable character. He revealed that the director specifically asked him to lose the bulk and look “normal” for the role. Committed to the part, Ishaan dropped 8 kilos to fit the vision.Neeraj Ghaywan’s second feature film, Homebound, had its world premiere at the recently held 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it earned a remarkable nine-minute standing ovation. The film is co-produced by Karan Johar, with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese on board as executive producer—adding significant weight to its global appeal.
