March 7, 2025: Shibani Akhtar, the creator of the extremely anticipated crime drama Dabba Cartel, just lately shared her insights into the artistic course of, the challenges she confronted, and the triumphs of bringing this gripping sequence to life. Premiering on Netflix, Dabba Cartel provides a recent tackle the crime style by specializing in the sudden involvement of 5 center-class ladies in a harmful drug cartel.
The present boasts a stellar ensemble forged, together with Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, and Shalini Pandey, who’ve already captivated audiences worldwide with their excellent performances. As a primary-time creator and producer, Shibani spoke about her private development all through the manufacturing journey, the significance of feminine-pushed narratives, and the ability of collaboration.
In an interview, Shibani defined what drew her to the mission: “I knew that I needed to create one thing with a feminine-led forged, and I needed it to be within the crime drama style. All of it got here collectively in essentially the most natural means.”
She emphasised the collaborative nature of the mission, saying, “It’s been an unimaginable expertise. Fortunately, the viewers has actually embraced the exhausting work we put into it. It’s such an ideal feeling to see it come to life.”
The casting course of was additionally essential for Shibani, notably when it got here to Shabana Azmi, who she all the time envisioned because the lead. “Earlier than the idea was totally developed, I knew I needed Shabana Azmi within the lead function. There was little question in my thoughts. She was the proper match,” she shared.
Shibani additionally spoke extremely of Jyotika’s strategy to the function. “Jyotika was from the very starting. She requested all the suitable questions, totally researched the mission, and made certain she totally understood the depth of her character earlier than saying sure,” Shibani defined.
As Worldwide Ladies’s Day approached, Shibani mirrored on the quote, “I’m my very own warrior,” and related it to her personal journey as a creator. She stated, “Navigating this area as a primary-time creator and producer was uncharted territory for me. There have been so many issues I needed to study and so many battles I needed to combat alongside the way in which.”
She continued, “It’s not as straightforward as it might look when you see the completed product. There’s a whole lot of exhausting work that goes on behind the scenes—bodily, mentally, and emotionally. However via this course of, I grew personally and professionally.”
Shibani spoke candidly in regards to the nerve-wracking moments main as much as the premiere of Dabba Cartel. “I used to be nervous for about an hour through the second screening, however there wasn’t a lot time to really feel nervous earlier than that. We had such tight deadlines that we simply stored going. However once I realized the present was releasing the following day, I did have a quick second of panic—however then it handed,” she admitted.
Created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda, Dabba Cartel additionally stars Gajraj Rao and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat in pivotal roles. With its distinctive narrative and a forged filled with unimaginable expertise, the present is about to be one among Netflix’s most talked-about releases.
Because the sequence hits Netflix, Shibani’s journey from a primary-time creator to the mastermind behind an thrilling new crime drama marks a big milestone in her profession—one that’s certain to encourage many aspiring creators.
