Actor Ishaan Khatter, who now stars in The Royals, spoke about working with Tabu in A Suitable Boy. He recalled how she made him feel safe while filming intimate scenes.

Strong Writing Shaped Their Bond

Ishaan praised the show’s script. He said it helped build natural chemistry between their characters. He explained, “The storyline deliberately acknowledged the age gap,” which made their relationship feel real. He believed the strong writing “grounded their bond in authenticity.”

Tabu Gave Him Confidence

Ishaan shared that he felt calm while filming the intimate scenes. “I was not freaked out, absolutely not,” he said. In fact, he felt more confident. He explained, “I felt safer, because I was playing off of an actor who I knew would not only understand what I’m doing, but like, take it somewhere else.” He admired how they didn’t need to plan their actions. “We never had to speak about what we’re doing in a scene,” he added.

Scenes Felt Easy and Fun

Ishaan said working with Tabu felt smooth and enjoyable. “She would be talking about random things, like, what do you want for lunch,” he shared. Tabu kept the mood light even during serious scenes. He called her “very naughty” and said, “she’s like a child on set.” Ishaan also admired her acting skills. He explained, “So much of what we do is, how do you make a moment dense? How do you make it come alive?” With Tabu, he said, “it just happened, like, seamlessly… it was just like a conversation with our eyes.”

About A Suitable Boy

Mira Nair directed the series, which Andrew Davies adapted from Vikram Seth’s 1993 novel. The cast includes Tanya Maniktala, Tabu, Ishaan Khatter, Rasika Dugal, Ram Kapoor, Namit Das, and others.

The story follows 19-year-old Lata, played by Tanya Maniktala. Her mother pressures her to find a husband, while Lata seeks independence and love. The show explores family expectations, tradition, and modern choices. It is now streaming on Netflix.

What’s Next for Tabu and Ishaan?

Tabu will appear in Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan. The film, also starring Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, will release in 2026.

Meanwhile, Ishaan recently starred in The Royals. He hasn’t confirmed his next role. However, his film Homebound premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan Johar, the movie also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa. It received a 9-minute standing ovation at Cannes.