What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedVictoria & Abdul
Stephen Frears · Film · 2017
If you loved Victoria & Abdul, start with Navillera (2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Victoria & Abdul across media.
What hooked you in Victoria & Abdul is how the rigid barriers of status dissolve through the unexpected intimacy of an unlikely human connection.
Books on the same thread
The Queen's Fool
Philippa Gregory · Book · 2004
Explores: Royal Intrigue, Courtly Love, Religious Conflict.
If the royal court dynamics in Victoria & Abdul intrigued you, this novel provides a similar deep dive into the treacherous, high-stakes atmosphere of the British monarchy's inner circle.
Cracking India
Bapsi Sidhwa · Book · 1991
Explores: Partition of India, Religious Violence, Childhood Trauma.
Like the cultural bridge built in Victoria & Abdul, this story examines the personal impact of India's history, offering a poignant perspective on the human toll of colonial division.
Oscar and Lucinda
Peter Carey · Book · 2011
Explores: Gambling, Religion and Faith, Social Class.
The unconventional romance and social friction found in Victoria & Abdul mirror the way this novel explores the collision of vastly different lives against a strict historical backdrop.
A Passage to India
E. M. Forster · Book · 2023
Explores: Clash of cultures, Colonial power dynamics, Racial prejudice.
If the complex colonial power dynamics in Victoria & Abdul captured your interest, this classic novel offers a profound, essential exploration of the deep alienation between cultures in India.
Series on the same thread
Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with Victoria & Abdul: Historical Drama.
Much like the behind-the-scenes look at the monarchy in Victoria & Abdul, this series masterfully depicts the social hierarchies and personal lives unfolding within a grand historical estate.
The Jewel in the Crown
Irene Shubik · Series · 1984
Shares a thread with Victoria & Abdul: Historical Drama.
This series expands on the colonial themes explored in Victoria & Abdul, providing a more intensive look at the racial tensions and identity struggles inherent in British-ruled India.
The Crown
Peter Morgan · Series · 2016
Shares 2 threads with Victoria & Abdul: Historical Drama, Biographical Drama.
If you enjoyed the intimate portrayal of the British monarchy in Victoria & Abdul, this series offers a broader, gripping examination of the political and personal burdens of royalty.
Navillera
Series · 2021
Explores: Mentorship, Late-Life Dreams, Overcoming Obstacles.
The heartwarming intergenerational friendship at the core of Victoria & Abdul is echoed here as two people from different worlds find common ground through a shared, transformative human dream.
Podcasts on the same thread
A New Untold Story
Podcast
Explores: Small-town life, Overcoming adversity, Single motherhood.
While different in tone from Victoria & Abdul, this biographical storytelling captures the same spirit of personal resilience and the unique, often untold experiences that define an individual life.
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026
Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.
If the quest for genuine connection in Victoria & Abdul resonated with you, this podcast provides an honest, humorous look at the challenge of finding true friendship despite professional barriers.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Victoria & Abdul based on a true story?
The movie Victoria & Abdul depicts the historical relationship between Queen Victoria and her Indian clerk, Abdul Karim. Directed by Stephen Frears, the film explores the unlikely friendship that developed between the monarch and her attendant during the later years of her reign.
Who directed Victoria & Abdul?
Victoria & Abdul was directed by Stephen Frears. The 2017 film focuses on the bond formed between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim, a young clerk from India who traveled to England to serve the Queen during her Golden Jubilee.
What is the primary relationship in Victoria & Abdul?
The core of Victoria & Abdul is the unlikely friendship between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim. As a young Indian clerk, Karim becomes a significant figure in the Queen's life, bridging a cultural and social gap within the royal household during the late nineteenth century.
When was Victoria & Abdul released?
Victoria & Abdul was released in 2017. Directed by Stephen Frears, the film tells the story of the connection between Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim, an Indian clerk who arrives in England and forms a close, unconventional friendship with the aging monarch.