Shabana Azmi reveals she told Dabba Cartel makers 'Jyothika ko matt lo', says, "it was my mistake"

Shabana and Jyothika

At the trailer launch of Dabba Cartel on February 18, veteran actress Shabana Azmi made a startling revelation - she had tried to get her co-star Jyothika removed from the show.The confession came as a surprise to many, especially since both actresses are now seen promoting the project together.

Shabana Azmi candidly admitted, “I have tried to remove two girls from this. One of them is Jyothika. She doesn’t know about this, but I kept saying, ‘Yeh nahin usko lo’ (Not her, take someone else). But these guys told me, ‘Do what you want, we won’t change her.’ I am really grateful now that she’s here. Truly. It was my mistake. It would have robbed me of the pleasure of working with you.”

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Her admission set off a wave of discussion among fans and industry insiders. While the statement was unexpected, Shabana Azmi’s honesty in acknowledging her mistake and her appreciation for Jyothika’s presence in the show softened the impact.

About Dabba Cartel

Directed by Hitesh Bhatia, Dabba Cartel is a gripping crime drama that is set to release on Netflix on February 28, 2025. The series follows the journey of five women who run a seemingly ordinary lunchbox delivery service but unknowingly get entangled in the dangerous world of a drug cartel. The story is set in the suburbs of Thane and explores crime, deceit, and survival in a high-stakes underworld.

The ensemble cast includes some of the most talented actors in the industry, featuring Shabana Azmi, Jyothika, Gajraj Rao, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Lillete Dubey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat.

The creators of Dabba Cartel include Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda. The show is produced by Excel Entertainment and co-written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher.

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Shabana Azmi’s Regret and Praise for Jyothika

Shabana Azmi’s attempt to remove Jyothika from the show was apparently an instinctive decision at the time, but she later realized it would have been a mistake. During the event, she openly admitted her regret, saying, “The legendary actress told the media that she had tried to convince the makers to replace Jyothika in the show. However, she also said that she regretted it later for doing this.”

This acknowledgment was met with appreciation from fans who saw it as a sign of Azmi’s humility and willingness to accept past misjudgments. Industry experts also noted that such confessions are rare in Bollywood, where casting decisions are often kept under wraps.

The Buzz Around Dabba Cartel

The grand trailer launch of Dabba Cartel took place in Mumbai on February 18, 2025. The show’s intriguing premise has already generated buzz among audiences.

Netflix, in its promotional post, shared, They’re cooking. And it’s criminally good. Watch Dabba Cartel, out 28 February, only on Netflix.