Dabba Cartel actress Shabana Azmi on her illustrious career, “I had no idea I would be fortunate to find good work 50 years later”

By Sohail Khan -

March 7, 2025 - 3:38 PM IST

Shabana Azmi is playing a pivotal character in the acclaimed Netflix web series Dabba Cartel, which started streaming earlier this month. Also starring Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey and Anjali Anand, the show is about a group of women entering the business of selling drugs in pretext of running a tiffin service. Shabana Azmi spoke to us about her experience of doing the show and more.

Dabba Cartel actress Shabana Azmi on her illustrious career, “I had no idea I would be fortunate to find good work 50 years later”

At this juncture of your career, what do you look for in your characters?

Anything that strikes me as interesting. The script, young directors’ take on it, length of the role don’t matter but it must be important to the story. The money is also important… Anything that catches my fancy.

Are the roles that do justice to you becoming progressively difficult to find?

That is but natural. It’s the cycle of life and I don’t grudge it. When I started my career, I had no idea that I would be fortunate to find good work for fifty years later! That’s a huge bonus.

Wouldn’t you like to write your own dream role?

I have no desire to write my own script. I have great respect for writers and I can have an idea or two but not the talent to write a script. As for the dream role, I am living it.

Interestingly, no one goes to you with stereotypical matriarchal parts

That is something I’m grateful for. I have stayed away from the helpless ma type roles and Karan Johar’s film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani has given me a fresh lease of life. Manish Malhotra ‘s Bun Tikki, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Lahore 1947 and Excel Entertainment’s Dabba Cartel have nothing in common and Spielberg’s Halo, running its second season now, is from another planet!

Your colleague from Ashanti, Zeenat Aman has become quite an Insta-star

Zeenat tells me she was very reluctant to put herself out on social media but her kids coaxed her and I’m glad they did. She looks glamorous, doesn’t pretend to look younger than she is and her posts are dignified with malice to none. Kudos to her.

After being clothed by him, what is it like being in films produced by Manish Malhotra?

I’m impressed with Manish Malhotra that the first three films he chose to produce are away from the mainstream and a leap for him. Faraz Ansari who directs Bun Tikki is passionate and completely sure of what he wants. Sheer Qorma, a short film I did with him earlier is a very sensitive film. I hope Bun Tikki is appreciated.

Speaking of Bun Tikki, you are being directed by superchef Vikas Khanna

Vikas Khanna's Imaginary Rain is now complete. I can’t cook to save my life but I’ve done a fair simulation of it, so Vikas tells me. He is a maaaadddd and obsessed person. He wants to do a thousand things all at once and wears himself thin. I worry about his wellbeing but it is very energising to be with him. He treats me like a flower and I love working with him.

And you are working for the first time with the brilliant Rajkumar Santoshi in Lahore 1947

Rajkumar Santoshi is old school but absolutely certain of what he wants. He knows every word, every gesture of the script and Lahore 1947 is a powerful subject. He has been trying to make it for years and now that Aamir Khan is producing the film, he has all the freedom to make it exactly how he has envisaged it.

You completed fifty years of acting in 2024

I am very pleased that my 50th year in films was celebrated the world over. I’m very grateful. I’ve realised that the thing I like doing most is acting.

Also Read: Jyotika on working with Shabana Azmi in Dabba Cartel, “Don’t think anyone would think twice before wanting to share frame with her”