Farhan Akhtar spoke at the trailer release of Dabba Cartel in Mumbai on Tuesday, a show produced by Excel Entertainment. Akhtar shared his excitement about the unique combination of genres in the series, describing it as a layered and intriguing experience.
He said, "When I first heard the title Dabba Cartel, I knew there would be layers in the show. There was that, and besides that, it was very interesting to see the coming together of two very unique genres. We’ve seen family dramas a lot on TV, which is one world, and then there’s the world of thrillers. In this show, there’s some kind of scandal happening in the pharmaceutical world. When you combine the two, it creates a very unique experience in terms of imagining what this world could be like."
Akhtar also emphasized the importance of strong female representation in storytelling. He stated, "It’s important that in entertainment—whether it’s films, television, or OTT—there’s always a strong female voice present. Female characters should not only be discussing men or problems related to home. They should have careers, they should have lives. To me, that will inspire many younger women to fulfill their dreams. As Excel, that’s important for us."
He added, "Combined with a story as exciting as Dabba Cartel, it was really impossible to say no when Shibani first took me through what the show was about. And one can only pray for the most incredible people and talent to be attached to the show. As a producer, that’s all you can hope for: to get the best talent attached to your show."
Finally, Akhtar expressed his pride in the project: "I’m very proud of this show and what it represents."
Dabba Cartel revolves around five women whose dabba (tiffin) business unexpectedly pulls them into the dangerous world of a high-stakes drug cartel. The series features a stellar ensemble cast, including Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Gajraj Rao, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat.
Premiering on February 28, 2025, the show is produced by Excel Entertainment and directed by Hitesh Bhatia. Created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda, Dabba Cartel promises an intriguing blend of crime, suspense, and powerful female characters.