Dabba Cartel is an upcoming Indian crime thriller series set to premiere on Netflix on February 28, 2025. The series digs into the lives of five middle-class women whose modest dabba (lunchbox) business inadvertently joins them in the dangerous world of a high-stakes drug cartel.
Set in Thane, the narrative shows themes of ambition, deception, and survival. As the women goes about their double lives, they and their families become involved in the clandestine operations of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals, a company with a forbidden agenda. The story unfolds into a suspenseful tale of friendship, betrayal, and power.
The ensemble cast features acclaimed actors Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Gajraj Rao, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat. The series is directed by Hitesh Bhatia, written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher, and produced by Excel Entertainment. It is created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda.
In a statement, creator Shibani Akhtar shared, “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.” Director Hitesh Bhatia added, “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.”
