What starts as a simple lunchbox service soon spirals into a perilous game of crime, deception and survival. That’s in short is ‘Dabba Cartel’, a Netflix drama telling the story of five ordinary women whose lives get spiced up when they get involved in murky goings.

The trailer for Netflix’s ‘Dabba Cartel’ is here, offering a gripping look into the lives of five middle-class women whose reluctant dabba (tiffin) business takes an unexpected turn —thrusting them into the heart of a high-stakes drug cartel. As the plot thickens, the women and their husbands find themselves entangled in something far more sinister — the murky world of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals, the official plotline reads.

Directed by Hitesh Bhatia, written by Vishnu Menon and Bhavna Kher, and produced by Excel Entertainment, ‘Dabba Cartel’ is created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur and Akanksha Seda, the streamer said in a statement yesterday.

Starring a critically renowned ensemble cast, including Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat, the series unfolds in the bustling suburbs of Thane, where ambition meets danger at every turn.

The trailer gives a peek into this web of greed, betrayal, and unexpected alliances.

Creator Shibani Akhtar said, “With Dabba Cartel, we wanted to explore the extraordinary journey of ordinary household women, and how resilience, ambition, and survival instincts can push them into unimaginable circumstances. This is a story of friendship, betrayal, and power, set against the backdrop of a world they never imagined being a part of.

Director Hitesh Bhatia added, “Directing ‘Dabba Cartel’ has been an incredible experience. At its core, it’s a gripping crime drama, but what makes it special is the emotional depth and the dynamic characters who navigate a high-stakes world with courage and wit. The cast has delivered phenomenal performances, and I’m excited for viewers to dive into this rollercoaster of crime and survival on Netflix.”

‘Dabba Cartel’, which premieres on February 28 on Netflix, is produced by Excel Media and Entertainment LLP and executive produced byRitesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Kassim Jagmagia, Abbas Raza Khan, Shibani Akhtar and Sunitha Ram.

Meanwhile, a PTI report from Mumbai quoted cast member Jyotika as saying that there are a lot of stories to be told from the female perspective.

Moving away from love interest roles to complex characters has been a conscious effort, said actor Jyotika on Tuesday as she lamented the lack of stories told from the female perspective.

The actor, known for films such as ‘Doli Saja Ke Rakhna’, ‘Chandramukhi’, ‘Kaakha Kaakha’,‘Kaathal – The Core’, and ‘Srikanth’, added, “My shift happened when I was 27. I’m 45 now, so it’s been a long time since I shifted from the love interest and praising the hero roles. It has been a conscious effort. I think it’s very much required.”