Shabana Azmi, the legendary actor, is the center of Netflix’s largest crime thriller, Dabba Cartel, which has been creating massive buzz even before its release. With its gripping storyline and powerhouse cast, audiences are already speculating whether the series is based on reveal events. Adding to the intrigue, Azmi has made some candid revelations about the casting process, particularly regarding her initial doubts about co-star Jyotika.
The hype surrounding the Dabba Cartel
Set to premiere on February 28, Dabba Cartel follows five middle-class women running a modest tiffin service, only to find themselves entangled in a dangerous drug-running trade. The story feels so real that some viewers have started believing it is based on true incidents. However, the shoe remains a work of fiction, blending crime, suspense, and drama.
Shabana Azmi’s surprising confession
Shabana Azmi revealed that she initially wanted Jyotika replaced in Dabba Cartel at the show's trailer launch. “I have to confess. I tried to remove two girls from this (show). One is Jyotika. She doesn't know this but I said this. It’s creditable to these guys who said, ‘You can do what you want. We are not going to replace her.’ And I am grateful that you (pointing to Jyotika) played it. It was my mistake. It would have robbed me of the pleasure of working with you,” she said.
A family affair for Shabana Azmi
For Azmi, working on Dabba Cartel was a “ghar ka maamla,” as the show is produced by her stepson Farhan Akhtar, and created by her stepdaughter-in-law Shibani Akhtar. “For me, it was ghar ka maamla, bhau ne hukum diya, beta produce kar raha hai, meri aukaat ki mai naa bolu?” she joked. However, she also acknowledged that the role itself was fascinating and a rare opportunity.
Azmi also shared her excitement about working with younger actors in the series. “The fact that I’m working with younger actors who are bringing in completely different sensibilities from mine is always exciting. Most of the younger actors come with trepidation that, ‘What will happen next?’ They realized soon that there's nothing like that and they became so comfortable that I had to remind them, ‘I’m senior, behave yourself.”
Azmi also praised the evolution of casting directors in the Hindi film industry. “For me, the advent of the casting directors has brought a huge change ....They have freed Hindi cinema from stock characters. So we have got the most fascinating faces which are authentic,” she said.
She also pointed out how today’s actors take their craft more seriously. “One of my favorite examples is Rishi Kapoor in Karz. It was such a huge hit. But you can see that he’s not playing the guitar, he’s just drumming it. Today, it's impossible. No actor could get away with that now. The fact that we are taking many more interesting faces and that the stories don’t have to be only about a pretty boy and pretty girl has brought a huge change both for men and for women.”
Altogether despite its realistic themes and convincing performances, Dabba Cartel is purely a work of friction. While the storyline may remind audiences of real-life criminal cases, no actual “dabba cartel” operates in Mumbai. Still with its thrilling premises and powerful cast, the series is set to be a must-watch it drops on Netflix on February 28.