Jyotika on her latest film Dabba Cartel with Shabana Azmi: "lot of stories to be told from female perspective"

Jyotika, who has consistently sought out meaningful roles, will next be seen in Netflix’s upcoming series Dabba Cartel.

Actor Jyotika, widely recognized for her performances in Doli Saja Ke Rakhna, Chandramukhi, Kaakha Kaakha, Kaathal – The Core, and Srikanth, recently spoke about her deliberate decision to move away from conventional love interest roles in favor of more complex characters.

According to PTI, speaking on Tuesday, she expressed her disappointment over the limited number of stories told from a female perspective. Reflecting on her career shift, she stated, "I made this transition when I was 27, and now at 45, it has been a long journey since I stepped away from roles that revolve around praising the hero. This change was a conscious choice, and I strongly believe it is necessary."

Jyotika, who has consistently sought out meaningful roles, will next be seen in Netflix’s upcoming series Dabba Cartel.

Jyotika said while speaking to the media during the trailer launch, "There are a lot of stories to be told from the female perspective. They are fewer. I feel Dabba Cartel is a fresh take on how women are and they are battled as domesticated women and women facing the outer world."

The upcoming show follows five ordinary women and how their low-key dabba service spirals into an unexpected venture: a high-stakes drug delivery operation. It also stars Shabana Azmi, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, and Lillete Dubey. In the series, Jyotika essays the character of Varuna, an ambitious married woman. "With Varuna, there was something deep inside her. These complications in a character are very important and are obvious in every woman’s lives. The connect with a real woman out there is what makes me choose a character," she added.

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After making her return to Hindi cinema with the 2024 films Srikanth and Shaitaan, the actor shared that working alongside Shabana Azmi helped her grow as a performer. "Just standing with Shabana Azmi ma’am, observing her as an actor, has sort of made me a much better actor. The first frame that I saw of myself with her while dubbing for this, I had goosebumps… I was like, ’Am I sharing screen space with the Shabana Azmi?’ I haven’t been this excited with a male actor...This is a very special one for me,” she added.

Dabba Cartel will premiere on Netflix on February 28.

(With inputs from PTI)