Bhumi Pednekar has spoken candidly about a deeply reflective phase in her personal and professional life following the release of Netflix India’s The Royals. The actor revealed that she took a nearly ten-month break after facing criticism for the show, choosing to pause, introspect, and reconnect with herself before returning to work.
Since then, Bhumi has completed Prime Video India’s crime thriller Daldal and Danish Aslam’s Adhoore Hum Adhoore Tum, where she stars opposite Imran Khan. With a courtroom drama scheduled for release this March, the actor says she feels creatively refreshed and emotionally grounded.
Why Bhumi Took a Break After The Royals
Speaking to SCREEN, Bhumi clarified that she does not regret any of her past work.
“No, actually I don’t have second thoughts about any work I’ve done. I’ve loved everything I’ve done in my life. I loved The Royals as well. I really enjoyed the show,” she said.
Explaining her hiatus, Bhumi shared, “I’ve done about 25 films and shows so far. I want to improve as a performer and as an artist.” She admitted that the constant pace of work had left her emotionally drained.
“I felt depleted as an actor. I needed to step back, do workshops, read, travel, experience life, and get in touch with the human side of me.”
How Daldal Became a Healing Experience
Bhumi believes her outlook changed while watching herself in Daldal, which she describes as a turning point.
“I’ve just become kinder to myself. I had forgotten that,” she said.
Calling the project deeply therapeutic, Bhumi added, “Doing Daldal was healing for me.” She also highlighted the importance of emotional safety on set.
“There were people around me who had faith in me and formed a strong safety net. Now more than ever, I needed that.”
Working With Imran Khan Felt Comforting
Bhumi also opened up about working with Imran Khan in Adhoore Hum Adhoore Tum, calling the experience emotionally reassuring. Admitting she had long admired him, she said returning to set with familiar energy helped her rediscover her love for acting.
“I had a huge crush on him,” Bhumi shared, adding that collaborating with someone she admired made the process even more meaningful.
Why She Added Her Father’s Name
Another significant change for Bhumi has been adding her father’s name to her professional identity. She is now officially credited as Bhumi Satish Pednekar.
“Yes, I wanted my dad’s name to be there because it felt like the right time,” she explained. Calling it a deeply personal step, Bhumi said, “It was a process of shedding everything… and somewhere a part of my healing.”
She added that her break from work finally gave her the space to process personal loss.
“I didn’t have the time earlier to deal with what happened with my father. I got that time over the past few months.”
About Daldal
Directed by Amrit Raj Gupta and produced by Vikram Malhotra and Suresh Triveni, Daldal is based on Vish Dhamija’s bestselling novel Bhendi Bazaar. The series stars Bhumi Satish Pednekar as DCP Rita Ferreira, alongside Samara Tijori and Aditya Rawal, and is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
