Bhumi Pednekar Reveals The Royals Backlash Forced Her into a 9-Month Acting Hiatus
In a candid revelation, Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has opened up about how the severe backlash against her performance in the Netflix India series The Royals profoundly impacted her mental and emotional well-being, leading her to take a deliberate nine-month break from acting. The actress, last seen on screen in May 2025, confessed that the criticism left her questioning her own abilities and identity as an artist.
Why Bhumi Pednekar Chose to Step Away from the Spotlight
Bhumi Pednekar hasn’t been on a film set since June 2025, following the release of The Royals. While the show has been renewed for another season, the actress revealed that the intense trolling and constructive feedback alike pushed her to make drastic life decisions. "There was a lot of trolling, a lot of bots. But between all of that, there was a lot of constructive criticism as well. And that was one experience that got me to take some really drastic decisions for my life in 2025. One of them was taking a break. I didn’t announce it because I didn’t want to dramatize it," Bhumi stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.
Having worked non-stop for a decade since her acclaimed debut in Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015, where she gained 30 kg for the role, Bhumi admitted to feeling emotionally depleted. "I had become emotionally depleted. I’d completely lost perspective of who I am as an actor, as a person, who is Bhumi. So, I had to step back, and in that noise, I had to find people who were my well-wishers who had truly something constructive to say," she explained. This period of introspection made her reevaluate her career and personal life for the next ten years.
How Bhumi Pednekar Spent Her 9-Month Break: Harvard, Travel, and Self-Discovery
During her hiatus, Bhumi Pednekar embarked on a journey of self-renewal and enrichment. She watched movies, read books, and notably, took a course at Harvard University to broaden her horizons. Extensive travel also played a key role in rebuilding her reservoir of life experiences, which she felt had dwindled from years in the industry bubble.
"I didn’t have any real experiences left in me that I could extend to my craft. And that scared me. One of the biggest fears I always had was I don’t ever want to be mediocre, and I think I reached there. It was important for me to accept that and not be in denial. Because I know what I’m capable of doing," Bhumi confessed. She even revisited her past work, grappling with doubts like, "can I actually act? Do I have it in me?" This process helped her realize the need to stop taking her talents for granted and break free from the insulated world of acting.
Her travels included meaningful interactions, from discussing social issues with locals at tea stalls to exchanging notes with young actors in Los Angeles. Additionally, she focused on her physical and mental health, spent quality time with family, and dedicated efforts to her eco-friendly business, Backbay, a natural mineral water brand she co-founded with her sister Samiksha Pednekar.
Bhumi Pednekar's Comeback and Future Projects
Bhumi Pednekar is set to return to acting in March 2026 with her first courtroom drama, a theatrical film addressing sexual violence against women and marginalized communities. "I’ve been working on it for the past two months. I can’t wait to be on a film set," she expressed enthusiastically. Her break involved significant sacrifices, including returning signing amounts and declining lucrative offers, as she aimed to reduce her media presence and reconnect with herself.
She cited actor Imran Khan, who took a similar break in 2015 and recently returned, as an inspiration. "I saw what he did in his last 10 years. And he’s doing okay, he’s doing great," Bhumi noted, adding that she now feels replenished and confident. Before her return, audiences can see her in the crime thriller series Daldal, where she plays a Mumbai top cop, scheduled for release on Prime Video India on January 30, 2026.
This transformative break has not only healed Bhumi Pednekar but also reaffirmed her passion for acting, setting the stage for a powerful comeback in the Indian entertainment industry.
