Shibani Dandekar on Shabana Azmi’s casting in 'Dabba Cartel': ‘I don’t think he had any idea…’

Shabana Azmi’s role in 'Dabba Cartel' was a dream come true for Shibani Dandekar, but the casting came with an interesting twist. In a recent interview, Shibani revealed that it was Javed Akhtar who suggested Shabana for the show, unaware that she was already on the creators’ minds.
In a chat with The Hindu, Shibani recalled that she had previously mentioned the 'Dabba Cartel' to both Javed and Shabana during the lockdown. Later, when discussing the project again with her father-in-law, he recommended casting Shabana, not realizing that she had already been considered. “I don’t think he had any idea that she was already someone we wanted,” Shibani shared.
Interestingly, Shabana didn’t even listen to the full pitch before agreeing to join 'Dabba Cartel'. During a brief five-minute Zoom call with the team, she seemed disinterested in the details, yet had already made up her mind to be a part of the series. Shibani expressed that Shabana’s eagerness to sign on without hesitation was both surprising and flattering.
Addressing the perception that Shabana was cast due to family ties, Shibani clarified that her admiration for the legendary actress predated her relationship with Farhan Akhtar. She revealed that during her childhood in Australia, her only exposure to Hindi cinema was through a videotape of Shekhar Kapur’s 'Masoom', which she watched over 400 times. This deep-rooted connection to Shabana’s work made the collaboration even more special.
Shibani emphasized that casting Shabana was a creative decision rather than a personal one. While their family connection was coincidental, her admiration for Shabana’s craft and impact on Indian cinema made her the perfect fit for 'Dabba Cartel.'
Apart from Shabana Azmi and Shibani Dandekar, 'Dabba Cartel features an ensemble cast including Anjali Anand, Shalini Pandey, Gajraj Rao, and Jyotika in pivotal roles. The crime drama, streaming on OTT, delves into an intense narrative of power, ambition, and resilience, with Shabana delivering yet another powerhouse performance.
For Shibani, the opportunity to work with Shabana was more than just professional, it was a full-circle moment, fulfilling a childhood dream that she never imagined would turn into reality.