What starts as a simple lunchbox service soon spirals into a perilous game of crime, deception and survival. The trailer for Netflix’s Dabba Cartel is here, offering a gripping look into the lives of five middle-class women whose reluctant dabba business takes an unexpected turn — thrusting them into the heart of a high-stakes drug cartel. As the plot thickens, the women and their husbands find themselves entangled in something far more sinister — the murky world of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals.
Directed by Hitesh Bhatia, written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher, and produced by Excel Entertainment, Dabba Cartel is created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda.
Starring a critically renowned ensemble cast — Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat — the series unfolds in the bustling suburbs of Thane, where ambition meets danger at every turn. As the double lives of the members of the Viva Life company unravel, one question remains: how far will they go to protect themselves and their families? The trailer gives a peek into this web of greed, betrayal, and unexpected alliances.
Creator Shibani Akhtar shares , “ With Dabba Cartel, we wanted to explore the extraordinary journey of ordinary household women, and how resilience, ambition, and survival instincts can push them into unimaginable circumstances. This is a story of friendship, betrayal, and power, set against the backdrop of a world they never imagined being a part of. We can’t wait for audiences to experience the thrill and heart of this series that we at Excel Entertainment have created with Netflix .”
Director Hitesh Bhatia shares , “ Directing Dabba Cartel has been an incredible experience. At its core, it’s a gripping crime drama, but what makes it 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 .”
Dabba Cartel premieres on February 28, only on Netflix. Watch the trailer now…
CREDITS:
Production Company: Excel Media and Entertainment LLP
Executive Producer – Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Kassim Jagmagia, Abbas Raza Khan, Shibani Akhtar, Sunitha Ram
Creators – Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, Akanksha Seda
Director – Hitesh Bhatia
Co-Producer – Vishal Ramchandani
Writers – Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher
Cast – Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, Bhupendra Singh Jadawat
About Netflix:
Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
EXCEL ENTERTAINMENT:
Excel Entertainment’s oeuvre comprises a string of box-office hits like Dil Chahta Hai, Don, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Talaash, Fukrey & Toofaan. Alongside these blockbusters, Excel has also launched avant-garde ventures like Gully Boy, India’s first hip-hop film and the official entry to the Academy Awards in 2019 and Inside Edge, India’s first original series, was nominated for the coveted International Emmy Awards under the Best Drama category in 2018. In addition to commercially successful cinema, Excel has consistently garnered critical acclaim, Rock On being one such accomplishment that won the production house its second National Award in 2008. In 2023, ‘Dahaad’ was nominated for the series award at the Berlinale Film Festival. The series then brought home many awards including Asian Academy Creative Award for Best Actor. In 2024, Excel Entertainment, and Tiger Baby produced Superboys of Malegaon, which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) & London Film Festival (BFI)
