Netflix's Dabba Cartel: Shabana Azmi & Jyothika’s Crime Thriller Set for Netflix Release

By Shanti Swaroop Tripathi

Netflix's Dabba Cartel: In 2013, the film The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, released, telling the beautiful story of how a simple lunchbox led to a romance in a bustling city like Mumbai. Now, director Hitesh Bhatia brings us a new, thrilling, and mysterious web series Dabba Cartel, set in the same bustling Mumbai and revolving around the world of lunchboxes, but with a dark twist – the lunchboxes are being used for drug smuggling.

Yes, that’s right! This story takes us to the foggy world of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals in the suburban Thane, near Mumbai. It explores the lives of five middle-class women whose lunchbox business takes an unexpected turn, thrusting them into the center of a high-stakes drug cartel. As the story unfolds, the women and their husbands find themselves entangled in something far more dangerous than they had imagined – ambition, greed, betrayal, and unexpected alliances.

Netflix's Dabba Cartel: Shabana Azmi Praises Jyothika

The trailer for this crime-thriller was recently released in Mumbai. At the launch event, Shabana Azmi shared, “Working in Dabba Cartel was a family affair for me – my daughter-in-law gave the orders, my son was producing it, and what was I supposed to do, not speak up? It was an interesting character. Initially, I wanted a change in the cast, especially replacing Jyothika.  But I have to admit, I was wrong. Jyothika was a perfect fit, and credit really goes to the people who told me, ‘You can do whatever you want, but we aren’t changing her.’ I am grateful that Jyothika played this role. It was my mistake.”

In this crime-thriller series, actress Shalini Pandey takes her performance to another level with emotional depth. She said, “I play the role of Raji, a sweet, simple, and homely girl, but who undergoes a huge transformation. I explored the depth of this character, and it was an amazing experience for me. Raji’s journey from simple to completely changed was a discovery for me, and playing this role was fascinating.”

Shibani Akhtar on Dabba Cartel: A Tale of Power & Betrayal

Producer Shibani Akhtar said, "With Dabba Cartel, we wanted to explore the extraordinary journey of common housewives and how resilience, ambition, and survival instincts can push them into unimaginable circumstances. It’s a story of friendship, betrayal, and power, set against a world they never imagined being a part of. We can’t wait for the audience to experience the thrills and heart of this series, which we’ve created with Excel Entertainment and Netflix."

Hitesh Bhatia on Dabba Cartel: A Crime Drama with Heart

Director Hitesh Bhatia, who also directed the heartfelt film Sharmaji Namkeen starring the late Rishi Kapoor, said that Dabba Cartel was an incredibly special experience. “Directing Dabba Cartel was an unforgettable experience. At its core, it’s a compelling crime drama, but what makes it special are the emotional depths and dynamic characters who navigate a high-stakes world with courage and intelligence. The performances are phenomenal, and I’m excited for the audience to dive into this rollercoaster of crime and survival on Netflix.”

Dabba Cartel: Netflix's Crime Thriller on Drug Smuggling

While it’s common to deliver lunchboxes, the idea of using them to smuggle drugs is anything but ordinary. However, this drug smuggling game will be showcased in Dabba Cartel, streaming soon on Netflix. Directed by Hitesh Bhatia, written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher, and produced by Excel Entertainment, the series stars Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyothika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat, among others.