The Netflix series Dabba Cartel stood out for its powerful female-led cast, with the narrative centered around compelling performances by talented actors such as Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, and Anjali Anand. To shine amidst such a stellar ensemble is no small feat—but actor Bhupendra Jadawat managed to do just that.
Bhupendra on Dabba Cartel
Portraying the character Hari Jagtap, son of Shabana Azmi’s character and husband to Shalini Pandey’s Raji, Bhupendra left a lasting impression with his nuanced and restrained performance. Months after the show’s release, Bhupendra spoke to Mid-Day about the subtle changes success has brought.
“Life is yet to change after Dabba Cartel but there has definitely been a shift,” he says. “When you`re part of a good show, the audience and the industry begin to view you through a different lens.” He also added that the opportunities coming his way now are much better than earlier.
`NSD training is useful after 5-6 years`
Hailing from Kota, Bhupendra’s first brush with acting was accidental. While studying in Jaipur, he happened to take part in a college play—an experience that changed the course of his life.
“Theatre came into my life by chance, but it changed everything. After that, I consciously worked to cultivate myself as an actor,” he says.
Eventually, he moved to Mumbai—not to chase stardom, but to give his passion for acting a genuine platform.
Prior to that, Bhupendra trained at the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD). When asked if NSD helped him during his early days in the industry, Bhupendra offers a grounded perspective, “It depends on how hardworking you are. Initially, no name works in your favour. Your individuality is what counts. No institution or big tag helps you land a job—you have to audition, fit the part, and only then you get the role.”
He believes that NSD training begins to truly show its value only after a few years in the industry. “When I worked on Dabba Cartel or Matka King, I felt my acting training really helped. But not in the beginning. In your early days, you’re just delivering lines. Only when you get complex roles with depth do you really get to apply what you learned. NSD training becomes useful only after working in the industry for five to six years.”
Recalling his debut film Class of ‘83, Bhupendra says he relied on his training right from day one. “It was a period drama set in the 1980s. To understand that world, I read books like India After Independence. It helped me understand the social and political context of the time, which in turn shaped how my character would behave. Even the way people spoke—British English back then, unlike the Americanized English we hear today—had to be accurate. I had to understand how police officers operated during that time. For me, training came into play from the start—but it’s not the same for everyone.”
He adds, “I know many talented actors from NSD who are still waiting for that one role where they can fully utilize their training. Even I feel I’m still waiting for that truly transformative role.”
Bhupendra on being part of Matka King
Speaking about Matka King, Bhupendra calls it one of the best projects of his career. “I’ve been a fan of Nagraj sir for a long time. To be part of a project with him, alongside actors like Vijay and Siddharth, is a dream. It’s a strong ensemble cast filled with people who are deeply passionate about cinema. When you`re around such talent, you can’t help but learn and grow.”