With Dabba Cartel, Shalini Pandey proves yet again that strength doesn’t always roar—it often whispers. In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, the Arjun Reddy star opens up about her quietly powerful role as Raji, working alongside Shabana Azmi, the evolution of her craft, and the importance of setting boundaries
Tejal Sinha
There’s something arresting about Shalini Pandey—an honesty in her eyes, a stillness in her craft, and a quiet defiance in the way she chooses her stories. Ever since she captured hearts as Preeti in Arjun Reddy, she’s proven that powerful performances don’t always come from loud declarations. Sometimes, they whisper their way into your soul—and stay there.
Now, in Dabba Cartel, she’s winning hearts once again with her portrayal of Raji—a Maharashtrian woman who’s soft-spoken yet fiercely ambitious, tender yet unbreakable. But Raji isn’t just another character. For Shalini, she’s an experience. A journey. A slow-burning love affair.
In an industry that often boxes talent, Shalini stands apart—thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly real. In this candid conversation, she opens up about her evolving craft, the thrill of working with the iconic Shabana Azmi, the boundaries she’s learned to protect, and the deep-rooted love she holds for storytelling. Vulnerable yet assured, this is Shalini Pandey like you’ve never seen her before.
With her latest role as Raji in Dabba Cartel, she’s quietly but firmly stolen hearts once again.
The series might be building a subtle buzz, but audiences have already fallen for Shalini’s portrayal of Raji—a seemingly simple Maharashtrian girl with a steely sense of purpose. Sitting down to reflect on her journey into this new world, Shalini is refreshingly candid.
“Wow, we’re diving in straight,” she says with a smile, “I started the shoot almost around a year and a half back, and I’ve been saying this—Raji has been a gradual process for me.”
She pauses, searching for the right words. “I don’t have a fixed process for how I play a character. Every film or project is different. With Raji, I read the script and as I was playing her, I gradually fell in love. I had to be absolutely honest—to believe in her—and let the energy around me shape her.”
And a lot of that energy, she says, came from her director. “Hitesh is amazing. He just lets me be. We were always on the same page when it came to Raji—how we wanted her to be. That helped so much.”
Raji isn’t just another role for Shalini—it was her first time stepping into the shoes of a Maharashtrian character, and she embraced it fully. “The look, the costumes, the hair, the makeup—they all added to building Raji. It’s not just about my performance. So many elements contributed to shaping her. And while I was playing her, there were moments when I’d think—‘My God, she’s amazing. She’s adorable.’”
But what was the toughest part of slipping into the world of Dabba Cartel?
“Honestly, we were all so excited,” she recalls. “I was working with Shabana Azmi—that itself was a dream. To have scenes with her, one-on-one—it was surreal. Sure, every day brings its own challenges—you don’t know what could go wrong—but my team was amazing. And when you’re surrounded by people working together to make something better, it’s not just your job, it’s everyone’s. You feel supported.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Raji has stayed with her. “She might seem like a sweet, simple girl—but she’s ambitious,” Shalini says thoughtfully. “When we think of ambitious women, we picture someone loud, assertive, opinionated. But Raji runs her own little business—she’s already an entrepreneur. She’s a survivor. She has this resilience and problem-solving instinct that really stayed with me.”
And it’s that nuance that makes Raji different from her other characters. “Of course, Preeti, Kishori, Raji—they’re all sweet, simple girls. But each one is layered. With Raji, I saw how simplicity can hide so much strength. We humans aren’t just a few lines—we’re layered. And I’ve found those layers in every character I’ve played.”
Still, if there’s one moment that defined the Dabba Cartel experience for Shalini, it was working alongside the legendary Shabana Azmi.
“I can go on and on about her,” she says with visible affection. “My mom is an even bigger fan of hers than I am. She always wanted me to work with Shabana ji someday—and it happened. But getting to know her as a human being, as a woman, as an artist—that was the highlight. She’s so graceful, so thoughtful.”
She recalls a moment on set with a quiet smile. “We were rehearsing a scene, and she came up to me and said, ‘If you don’t mind, can I tell you something?’ I said, ‘Of course, ma’am.’ And she said, ‘What you did in rehearsals was beautiful. If you can do that on the take without getting conscious, it’ll be lovely.’ That’s how she is—she uplifts you without making it feel like she’s above you. And she’s given me life advice too. I’ve literally fallen in love with her.”
Looking back at her journey—from Jabalpur to Bollywood and Tollywood—Shalini speaks with clarity and gratitude.
“I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I’m ambitious. A go-getter. But more than anything, I’ve learned how to hold my boundaries. People will try to cross them, and you have to learn to say no. Not just no—but to say it with strength. And from Shabana ji, I’ve learned how to handle things with grace. You don’t need to raise your voice to be heard. You don’t have to be dragged to someone’s level if they’re trying to pull you down. Conduct yourself with dignity—that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
Her evolution as an actor has mirrored her personal growth. “I’ve learned life through this journey. Not just as an actor—but as a woman navigating this world. And I hope I keep learning and evolving. That’s the goal.”
Speaking of evolving—at a recent IIFA event, veteran actor Gajraj Rao made headlines saying she and Kartik Aaryan would make a great onscreen pair. Shalini takes it in stride.
“I’d love to work with everyone,” she grins. “Kartik’s journey is amazing. He’s also from a small town, and the way he’s made his mark in the industry is admirable. He’s doing amazing projects. And of course, I’d want to collaborate with actors like him—it elevates your own work. It’s always exciting to work with people who bring something to the table.”
Her filmography might look effortless, but Shalini is clear—her choices are intentional.
“When I started out—especially after Arjun Reddy—I was offered roles that didn’t have substance. I felt uncomfortable, but I didn’t know better. I didn’t have anyone to guide me. But I realized quickly that I didn’t want to just ‘be there’ in a film. I want characters with depth, with arcs, with layers.”
And she’s not just chasing roles—she’s looking for collaboration. “This isn’t a 9-to-5 job. We’re here to play, to create. You want your workplace to be safe and fun. I love being on set. That moment between ‘Action’ and ‘Cut’—that’s why I do what I do.”
As for what’s next? She smiles knowingly.
“I have a project with Amazon called Band Valley that I hope comes out this year. There’s also a Tamil film, which we’re wrapping up. And I’ve signed a new film, which I can’t talk about yet—but I’ll be shooting it next month.”
With her grounded spirit, self-assured energy, and growing list of compelling performances, it’s clear Shalini Pandey isn’t here just to act—she’s here to stay.
