Bhumi Pednekar has spoken candidly about the impact of online trolling following the release of The Royals, revealing that the experience pushed her to step away from film sets for nearly nine months. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor said the backlash forced her to confront both professional and personal questions, eventually leading to a quiet but decisive break from acting.
Reflecting on the period after the show’s release, Bhumi said, “There was a lot of trolling, a lot of bots. But between all of that, there was also constructive criticism. That experience pushed me to take some 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 dramatise it.”
Describing the emotional state that led her to pause her career, Bhumi added, “I had become emotionally depleted. I’d completely lost perspective of who I am as an actor and as a person. I had to step back and, in that noise, find people who were my well-wishers and had something truly constructive to say.”
The actor clarified that the decision to take time off was deliberate and self-driven. “I took a break. I haven’t been on a set since June. Many times, when an actor admits this, there’s a negative connotation attached to it. But it was something I did voluntarily, and it’s the best decision I’ve taken for myself,” she shared.
During this period, Bhumi distanced herself not just from film shoots but from the industry ecosystem at large. “I left movies. I had to return signing amounts. I had to say no to cheques. It wasn’t just about refusing films but also reducing my presence in the media. I said no to award shows and fashion events. I wanted to cut off and understand if I could survive on my own—and I know I can,” she said.
The break also became a time of learning and self-reflection. Bhumi spent months reading, watching films, travelling, and pursuing a course at Harvard University. She admitted that stepping away made her confront deeper insecurities about her craft. “I didn’t have any real experiences left to bring to my craft, and that scared me. I went back and watched my own work because I was lost. I questioned whether I could actually act,” she confessed.
Acknowledging how insulated life in the industry can become, Bhumi said the experience forced her to reconnect with the world beyond films. “It’s important for actors to step out of that bubble. That experience shook me. I’m grateful people watched The Royals. The best thing that came out of it was reconnecting with Bhumi the person and Bhumi the actor,” she said.
Bhumi is now preparing for the release of her upcoming show, Daldal, scheduled to start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from January 30, 2026.
Also Read: Bhumi Pednekar starrer Daldal to stream on Prime Video from January 30; watch teaser!
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