Shabana Azmi’s Dabba Cartel finding roots in Ajay Devgn’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbai is the best crossover of the week - Check out

While this week marks the end of February 2025, it also brings the release of several new projects. The biggest OTT release of the week lands on Netflix and is one of their most prominent shows of the year. Yes, we are talking about Dabba Cartel, the newest show on the streaming platform featuring Shabana Azmi in the lead, alongside Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan, Jyothika, Anjali Anand, Gajraj Rao, Sai Tamhankar, and an ensemble cast. The show revolves around the underworld, where women running a tiffin service are pushed into selling drugs and rise to power. The show has intrigued audiences since its very announcement.

Dabba Cartel Meets Once Upon A Time In Mumbai

Dabba Cartel presents a fascinating concept where women take charge and show men what they are capable of. Created by Shibani Akhtar and Vishnu Menon, and directed by Hitesh Bhatia, the show is backed by Farhan Akhtar. While much about the series was kept under wraps, we have already seen it and know everything—but we won’t spoil it for you. However, what if we told you the show has a surprising connection to an Ajay Devgn film? Yes, Dabba Cartel has an unexpected link to Once Upon A Time In Mumbai!

The story follows Raji and Mala, played by Shalini Pandey and Nimisha Sajayan, who are forced into the drug business. As the cartels begin overpowering them, Shaheeda (Anjali Anand) also gets drawn into their world. Shabana Azmi plays Baa, who steps in to save the day. Initially, the cartel boss sees Baa as an old woman he can manipulate, but he has no idea who she truly is. In a pivotal scene, she boldly reveals her past—that she once worked for Sultan Mirza and has handled similar deals for him.

Also Read: Dabba Cartel Review: Shabana Azmi and crew lay the ground for 'Narcos Thane' with dazzling flair

Now, if you recall, Sultan Mirza was played by Ajay Devgn in the movie Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. His character became iconic, as it was loosely based on a real-life gangster. The film remains one of the most loved crime dramas to this day. The nod to Sultan Mirza in Dabba Cartel comes as a fun surprise. While the two projects are not directly connected, the parallels are exciting. However, Sultan Mirza never appears in the show.

About Dabba Cartel

Raji (Shalini Pandey) runs a tiffin service with her househelp and friend Mala (Nimisha Sajayan). One day, Mala is deceived by her boyfriend, who blackmails her into selling weed through her dabba service. One drug deal leads to another, and soon, the cartel expands, recruiting more women, including Shaheeda (Anjali Anand), Varuna (Jyothika), and Sheela (Shabana Azmi). As the players increase and the drug underworld takes notice, challenges mount. Now, the women must fight to survive and grow the business. Will they succeed, or will they succumb? Watch Dabba Cartel on Netflix to find out.

Stay tuned to OTTplay for more updates on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

ALSO READ: Dabba Cartel: Release date, OTT plaform, cast, plot, and more about Shabana Azmi and Jyotika's crime thriller