WE ARE DIFFERENT!! Shabana Azmi Clarifies on Controversy
‘Dabba Cartel’ vs ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo’ row: Our Show Is Realistic, says Shabana Azmi
Ever since the first look of Dabba Cartel was unveiled, comparisons have been drawn between the Netflix series and Dimple Kapadia’s 2023 web show Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo. However, veteran actress Shabana Azmi has dismissed these similarities, emphasizing that Dabba Cartel is a more realistic portrayal.
Speaking to India Today Digital, Azmi admitted she initially had concerns about the comparison. “Before watching the show, I was worried about direct comparisons. But Shibani (Shibani Akhtar, creator of Dabba Cartel) assured me that wouldn’t be the case. After watching Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, I realized it was a well-made show, but vastly different from ours,” she said.
Azmi pointed out that Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo had a highly stylized, almost surreal aesthetic, with unique outfits and a distinct dialect. In contrast, Dabba Cartel is deeply rooted in reality, focusing on middle-class women navigating unexpected circumstances.
"They have a completely different setup, quite exotic. Their outfits are very unique, and they also have a specific dialect. Our show is very realistic, about these middle-class women. Hence, I really don’t think there is any comparison," she added.
Unlike Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo, which portrayed a matriarch-led drug cartel in an exaggerated, exotic setting, Dabba Cartel takes a grounded approach to female-led crime drama. The series, backed by Excel Entertainment and directed by Hitesh Bhatia, features an ensemble cast including Jyotika, Anjali Anand, Gajraj Rao, Shalini Pandey, Sai Tamhankar, and Nimisha Sajayan.
Though both shows explore women stepping into unconventional roles, Dabba Cartel offers a different take on the crime genre. Released on February 28, the series has received mixed reviews from audiences and critics.
It narrates the story of five middle-class women who launch their dabba service in Mumbai. While it may look like a simple start-up idea, it gradually transforms into a secret drug empire. As their business takes off, so do the dangers.
