When Netflix inked its creative partnership with Excel Entertainment in 2021, Dabba Cartel was one of the first projects to be teased. Since then, Excel has brought audiences Eternally Confused and Eager for Love (2022), Friday Night Plan, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (both 2023). But behind the scenes, a powerhouse team was quietly building something bigger- an intense, high-stakes crime drama with a women-led narrative that’s set to make waves.
On 29 February 2024, Netflix finally unveiled the first look at Dabba Cartel, and the response was instant. The teaser, accompanied by an electrifying background score, set social media buzzing. With an all-star cast and a crew of creative visionaries, this is one series crime-thriller fans won’t want to miss.
At first glance, it’s the story of five ordinary, middle-class women running a simple dabba service (home-cooked lunchbox delivery). But their world takes a dark turn when their business spirals into something far more dangerous-a full-blown drug trafficking operation. As their lives become entangled in an illegal pharmaceutical drug syndicate, they are forced to navigate crime, deception, and survival, all while their male counterparts-employees of a pharma company called Viva Life-fall under police scrutiny.
Co-produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Media and Entertainment LLP, the series is described by Akhtar as an “exciting project that pushes creative boundaries.” Speaking about Dabba Cartel, he said:
“This series is a dramatic tale of five everyday middle-class women reluctantly starting a drug cartel that ends up colliding with a massive pharma scandal under investigation. At Excel, we always try to tell stories that push creative boundaries, and Dabba Cartel is a perfect reflection of that vision.”
Led by some of the most formidable women in the industry, Dabba Cartel boasts a cast that includes: Shabana Azmi, a veteran of Indian cinema and international projects like Halo, and Jyothika, making her web series debut, Nimisha Sajayan, known for her riveting performance in The Great Indian Kitchen and Poacher.
It also has Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat in key roles.
The series is created by Shibani Akhtar, Gaurav Kapur, Akanksha Seda, and Vishnu Menon, with a screenplay co-written by Bhavna Kher. At the helm is director Hitesh Bhatia (Sharmaji Namkeen), who describes the show as much more than just a crime drama:
“At its core, Dabba Cartel is a gripping crime thriller, but what makes it truly special is the emotional depth and the dynamic characters who navigate a high-stakes world with courage and wit. The cast has delivered phenomenal performances, and I’m excited for viewers to dive into this rollercoaster of crime and survival on Netflix.”
Though Dabba Cartel has an ensemble cast, fans were quick to notice that Shabana Azmi and Gajraj Rao-both part of the project had brilliant on screen chemistry, Azmi herself took to social media to express her interest in collaborating with Rao in the future, sparking anticipation for another potential on-screen pairing.
If the trailer is anything to go by, Dabba Cartel is set to be a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience, balancing crime, drama, and social commentary.
Premiere Date: 28 February 2024
Where to Watch: Netflix
Will these five women outwit the system, or will their secret empire come crashing down? We’ll find out soon enough.