Veteran actress Shabana Azmi recently revealed why she agreed to play the lead role of a retired criminal Sheila in Dabba Cartel, which released on Netflix on February 28. Set in Mumbai, the show follows five women who secretly operate a high-stakes cartel. The series delves into themes of ambition, love, friendship, and betrayal.

Dabba Cartel has been produced by Shabana Azmi's stepson, Farhan Akhtar, and it marked the debut of her daughter-in-law, Shibani Akhtar, as a creator.

During an interview with India Today, the veteran star revealed if she felt pressure to ensure the show's success.

"It was quite a task, to be honest. Someone asked why I took up the show, and I said, 'Bahu ka hukm tha aur beta produce kar raha tha' (It was my daughter-in-law’s order while my son was producing it) - as if I had a choice," she said humourously.

The actress also stated that Farhan's production house maintained a highly professional approach. "They never exerted any pressure on us. The responsibility primarily rested on director Hitesh Bhatia, who had to manage a large ensemble cast of women. It was not an easy task for him, but he handled it efficiently. The experience was truly enjoyable."

Also, this is for the first time that Shibani and Farhan have collaborated on a project.

Dabba Cartel is rooted in the reality of middle-class women navigating unexpected circumstances. The series boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Jyotika, Anjali Anand, Gajraj Rao, Shalini Pandey, Sai Tamhankar, and Nimisha Sajayan.

The Free Press Journal's review of Dabba Cartel read, "The series begins on a promising note, with the first three episodes maintaining a decent pace. However, as the story progresses, it loses momentum, offering few thrilling moments to sustain engagement. At a certain point, the narrative feels stretched, and while there are some intriguing twists, they lack the dramatic execution needed to elevate the storytelling. Dabba Cartel presents a compelling premise of ordinary women transforming into drug mafias, but Hitesh's direction falls short of delivering the impact it deserves."