EK Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani: Trivia on show & actors

Of unparalleled opulence and timeless love, Zee TV’s magnum opus period drama ‘EK Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani’ is all set to take viewers back to 1940s. The show’s posters and trailers are already creating a stir on various social media platforms. For all those fans of Siddhant Karnick and Dhrashti Dhami who are eagerly waiting for the show to go on-air, here’s all you need to know about #ETR2... ~Mani Mahesh Arora

The show:

From time immemorial, those of royal descent have romanced the extravagant world of vintage cars, haute designers, spectacular jewelry and all things opulent. Known for their love of beauty and style, their lifestyles cast a spell across the world. Set against a fascinating backdrop of the lifestyles, motivations, hopes, aspirations, insecurities and the mysteries that shroud the Indian royalty of the 1940s, ‘EK Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani’ will premiere on July 27th and air at 9:30 PM every Monday to Friday.

The show is a classic romance that explores the dynamics of all that transpired behind the four walls of imperial palaces in an era of Indian history that has not been explored so far on Indian television.

Drashti Dhami's comeback:

The show has a stellar ensemble cast that includes the strikingly attractive Dhrashti Dhami, who makes a comeback on television as the leading lady Gayatri.

Siddhant Karnick:

The handsome Siddhant Karnick will play the male lead, Ranaji Indravadan Singh Deo, the intense and brooding prince of the royal family of Amerkot.

The cast:

Joining the duo is none other than the noted Bollywood actor who entertained the audiences with her films through the 80’s, the charming Anita Raj. Television's favourite Dadi Sa, the powerhouse of talent - veteran actor Surekha Sikri and the remarkably talented, National award-winning actor Darshan Zariwala will also join this ensemble playing pivotal roles.

Playing other interesting parts will be the enchanting Moon Bannerjee and popular actor Akshay Anand. While all these actors have made a distinct mark for themselves through interesting characters they have portrayed over the years, they now come together under one roof to create history on Indian television.

Some lesser known ‘behind the screens’ facts:

Leaving no stone unturned in taking its audiences back in time to the 1940s, the crew of this show is pushing the envelope with regards to production values, meticulous research and attention to detail. Bringing the pre-Independence era to life is a team of set and costume designers, engineers, architects and more than 500 workers, who have been toiling away relentlessly, day and night to replicate the look and feel of the period.

The royal set:

The grand palace constructed on the outskirts of Mumbai is one of the most expensive sets in the history of Indian television. The palace has a façade inspired from the famous Baroda Palace and is also, currently, the only waterproof set for a TV show. Brimming with elegance, classic charm and grandeur, the palaces, jewelry and costumes pay a tribute to royal families who lived lives of unparalleled grandeur and luxury. Carpets weighing over 2.5 tonnes, chandeliers, antiques, vintage cars have specially been sourced and carved wooden furniture is being crafted to replicate the designs prevalent in those times.

Jewelry and royal poshaks for the cast have been sourced from traditional kaarigars of UP, Delhi and Rajasthan. Coaches and trainers have been brought on board to train the cast in horse-riding, polo and the finer nuances of diction, body language and mannerisms of the people from that era. The cast and crew has also shot extensively in the palaces of Rajasthan.

This period romance drama will come in at 9:30 PM, while 'Qubool Hai' will move to 7:30 PM, further fortifying the early primetime band. As promised by its producers, we hope that the show turns out to be a clutter-breaker and hopefully, the biggest fiction show of the year.