Dabba Cartel: Jyothika Talks About Shifting to Strong Female Characters and Working with Shabana Azmi

Jyothika, who plays a significant role in the upcoming Netflix crime thriller Dabba Cartel, spoke passionately at the trailer launch of the series in Mumbai on Tuesday. She shared her excitement about being part of a project with such a strong female presence, both in front of and behind the camera.

 

She began by reflecting on the impact of being associated with Shabana Azmi, calling her a powerhouse name to be attached to. "Of course, Excel and the team... I feel very attached to this project because it has so many women heading the show. There was a huge women-led team, and our crew also had 70-80 percent women working. Just for the fact of women power, there was no reason to say no to the show."

 

Jyothika, who has been in the industry for over two decades, discussed the shift in her career from playing typical love interests to more complex female characters. "My shift happened when I was 27, and I’m 45 now, so it’s been a long time. Since I moved away from playing love interests and simply praising the hero’s character. Yes, it’s been a conscious effort. It required a shift because there are many stories to be told from a female perspective. However, there are fewer of them. I feel Dabba Cartel is a fresh take on how women are, and their battles as domesticated women facing the outer world."

 

Talking about her character, Varuna, she described her as a complex yet simple woman who lives with a facade for the outside world but has something deeply rooted inside her. "Varuna was an extremely complex but simple character, someone who lived with a facade for the outside world. But there was something deeply rooted inside her. I find these complications in the character extremely important because they’re so obvious in every woman’s life. The connection with real women out there made me choose this character. So, the shift has happened a long time ago. I’m glad and thankful to Excel for bringing me to this larger podium and giving me the space to prove and perform."

 

Jyothika also reflected on her experience working with Shabana Azmi. "Just being in her presence and observing her has made me a much better actor. The first frame I saw myself with her while dubbing gave me goosebumps. I hadn’t been this excited with a male actor. This has been so special."

 

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 on Netflix , 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.

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