Shabana Azmi Admits She Wanted Jyotika Removed From Dabba Cartel: 'Kisi Aur Ko Cast Karte Hain'
The trailer for Netflix's upcoming series Dabba Cartel was unveiled at an event in Mumbai. Shabana Azmi, one of the lead actors, surprised everyone with a bold admission about the casting process.

The trailer for Netflix's upcoming series Dabba Cartel was unveiled at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon. The launch brought together the star-studded cast and creators of the show. During a lively Q&A session following the trailer reveal, Shabana Azmi, one of the lead actors, surprised everyone with a bold admission about the casting process.
Dabba Cartel boasts an ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat. When asked about the challenges of bringing all the actors together, Shabana Azmi candidly shared her thoughts on the casting decisions.
Shabana Azmi wanted to remove Jyotika from Dabba Cartel
“I have a confession to make. There are two actresses in this show that I wanted to remove. One is Jyotika. She doesn’t know this, but I really wanted her out and wanted to cast someone else. I even told them (Farhan and Shibani) that kisi aur ko cast karte hain (let’s cast someone else)," she was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
The revelation drew laughter from the room, especially from Jyotika herself. Shabana continued, “But thankfully, they didn’t budge. Shibani said ‘do whatever you want to, but we are not changing the cast.’ And I am grateful that they didn’t listen to me, because it would have robbed me of the chance to work with her.” When asked who the other actress was, Shabana responded, “She is not here.”
About Dabba Cartel and its trailer
The series Dabba Cartel tells the story of ordinary women who, through their dabba (lunchbox) service, find themselves unknowingly transporting drugs across Mumbai. The trailer provides a preview of the women’s lives, which spiral into the dark underbelly of a ruthless pharmaceutical cartel.
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As the plot thickens, the women and their husbands find themselves tangled in a web of crime, corruption, and danger, driven by the mysterious operations of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals.
Directed by Hitesh Bhatia and penned by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher, the show is produced by Excel Entertainment and created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda.
Dabba Cartel is set to premiere on Netflix on February 28.
























