After nearly a decade of working non-stop, Bhumi Pednekar quietly stepped away from acting — and she didn’t make a headline out of it. The actress, who last appeared in Netflix India’s much-discussed series The Royals, has now revealed that the backlash and criticism surrounding the show pushed her to take a nine-month break from sets.
While The Royals has since been renewed for another season, Bhumi says the experience forced her to confront something deeper — burnout.
Why Bhumi Pednekar Walked Away From Acting
In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bhumi admitted that the criticism around The Royals hit harder than she expected.
“There was a lot of trolling, a lot of bots. But between all of that, there was also a lot of constructive criticism,” she said, adding that 2025 became a year of drastic personal decisions. One of them was stepping away entirely.
She didn’t announce the break publicly. “I didn’t want to dramatise it,” Bhumi explained.
Having worked continuously since her debut in Dum Laga Ke Haisha, where she famously gained 30 kilos for her role, Bhumi said the exhaustion wasn’t just physical.
“It’s not only about physical transformation. It’s also about what you go through emotionally and mentally every time you prepare for a character,” she shared.
“I Lost Perspective of Who Bhumi Is”
At her lowest point, Bhumi says she felt emotionally empty and disconnected from herself — both as an actor and as a person.
“I had become emotionally depleted. I’d completely lost perspective of who I am — as an actor and as a human being,” she admitted.
That realisation made her step back and filter out the noise. She focused on listening only to people who genuinely had constructive feedback, and began reassessing what the next decade of her life should look like.
What Bhumi Did During Her 9-Month Break
Bhumi confirmed that she hasn’t been on a film set since June. The break, she insists, was voluntary — and necessary.
During this period, she:
- Watched films with fresh eyes
- Read extensively
- Took a course at Harvard University
- Travelled widely — from long road trips in India to time spent with young actors in Los Angeles
- Focused on physical and mental health
- Spent time with family
- Worked on her business venture Backbay, an eco-friendly mineral water brand she co-founded with her sister Samiksha Pednekar
“I realised I didn’t have any real experiences left to give to my craft. And that scared me,” she confessed. “I never want to be mediocre — and I think I reached there.”
Saying No to Films, Money, and the Spotlight
Bhumi revealed she made some tough professional calls during this period. She returned signing amounts, said no to cheques, skipped award shows, and reduced her public presence drastically.
“It wasn’t just about not doing films. It was about cutting off from the noise,” she said. “I wanted to know — if I lose everything, will I survive? And I know I will.”
She also cited Imran Khan as an inspiration, referring to how he stepped away from films in 2015 and returned years later with clarity.
Bhumi Pednekar’s Return to Acting
After nine months away, Bhumi is finally ready to return. She revealed that she will resume shooting in March, starting with a theatrical courtroom drama focused on sexual violence faced by women and marginalised communities.
“I’ve been working on it for two months now. I can’t wait to be back on a film set,” she said.
Before that, audiences will see her as a troubled Mumbai top cop, Rita Ferreira, in the crime thriller Daldal, directed by Amrit Raj Gupta and produced by Suresh Triveni. The series, also starring Aditya Rawal and Samara Tijori, releases on January 30 on Prime Video India.
Final Words
Bhumi Pednekar’s break wasn’t about disappearing — it was about rebuilding. From burnout and self-doubt to clarity and confidence, her journey over the last nine months reflects a rare honesty in an industry that rarely pauses.
“I was broken. I was completely done,” she admitted. “And now — I’m good.”
Sometimes, stepping away is the bravest role an actor can take on.
