'The Royals' has been a royal rage on Netflix. And we caught up with Kavya Trehan who plays the delightful Princess Jinnie. In the latest episode of AfterHours with All About Eve, actor and musician Kavya Trehan opens up about life after the success of *The Royals*—a show that not only introduced her to a wider audience but also marked a pivotal shift in how she is now perceived as both an actor and an artist. She reflects on the unexpected praise that followed and humbly redirects the credit to her costume and styling team, describing their work as fundamental to how Jinnie, her character, came to life on screen.
Kavya Trehan on playing a queer princess in The Royals
Kavya delves into the emotional and creative journey of becoming Jinnie—a vibrant, multi-layered, and quietly complex character. From keeping a diary in Jinnie’s voice to using fashion as a key tool in character-building, she shares how she envisioned Jinnie as a shapeshifter—bubbly on the surface, but concealing a deeper, more introspective side. She also discusses the responsibility of portraying a queer character, particularly with a strong LGBTQIA+ following for her music, and how she approached the role with sincerity and care, avoiding stereotypes. Her on-screen dynamic with co-star Lisa Mishra, who played her love interest, developed naturally over the course of filming—something Kavya believes added real intimacy and truth to their scenes.
What Zeenat Aman told Kavya Trehan about love
In this interview, Kavya also shares thoughtful insights about her co-actors—Ishaan Khattar’s discipline, Bhumi Pednekar’s warmth and generosity, and a particularly poignant moment with the iconic Zeenat Aman. Kavya shares how a simple question from Zeenat Aman shifted her entire understanding of love, support, and emotional safety within relationships.
Beyond The Royals, Kavya offers an intimate glimpse into her inner world. She reflects on her spiritual evolution—how she moved from being a devout atheist to identifying as agnostic. No longer viewing belief through a transactional lens, she now associates faith with possibility, free will, and self-belief. This shift was guided, in part, by The Artist’s Way, a book that introduced her to manifestation, journalling, solitude, and daily rituals.
Kavya also speaks poignantly about losing her father at a young age. She recalls the ritual of lighting a diya with him every evening—an act she abandoned after his passing but later realised had given her a sense of control and emotional safety. That loss shaped her in lasting ways and deepened her artistic instincts, which she now protects and nurtures with intent.
Kavya Trehan's music
Music remains central to who she is. Kavya gives viewers a peek into her current playlist full of bold, high-energy tracks and talks about the intentional music choices she made while preparing for Jinnie, from K-pop and Bossa Nova to French ballads. She explains how sync licensing—licensing music for films, shows or podcasts—is a primary source of income, alongside her longstanding work as a music director.
When Kavya auditioned for The Royals
She also shares the story behind her audition for The Royals, which began in English before being adapted into Hindi. Fluent in French as well, Kavya brought those nuances into the performance, especially as Jinnie’s character had a French boyfriend in the show. With the show’s success, she now finds herself receiving offers from brands, filmmakers, and collaborators—and, for the first time, feels truly taken seriously as an actor.
(00:00) Episode begins
(2:38) After 'The Royals'
(3:50) Role of costume in building a character
(4:16) On her character Jinnie in The Royals
(6:17) Humour as a coping mechanism
(7:30) Self-conscious vs. conscious of the self
(9:28) Being agnostic and thoughts on God
(11:37) On unanswered prayers
(12:26) What is Kavya Trehan manifesting?
(16:13) On losing a parent
(19:05) Is she proud of herself?
(21:30) Kavya Trehan’s current playlist
(23:07) Playing a queer character
(25:05) Her dynamic with Lisa Mishra
(26:17) Best compliment from her sister
(28:30) Compliments after 'The Royals'
(29:03) On Zeenat Aman
(30:18) Advice from Zeenat Aman
(32:20) When Kavya fell from a horse
(34:35) Working with Ishaan Khatter
(36:34) On Bhumi Pednekar
(37:29) Internet hate and trolling
(39:36) Working on her EP Hyperreal
(46:32) What is garage music?
(47:02) Kavya’s music genre
(47:40) Biggest income source for musicians
(50:06) Kavya’s income sources
(52:04) Why Kavya doesn’t sing in Hindi
(52:41) Audition for 'The Royals'
(53:45) Would she sing a Bollywood song?
(55:33) Work and visibility after 'The Royals'
(58:24) How Kavya Trehan unwinds AfterHours
(1:03:38) Game
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