Shalini Pandey reflects on Arjun Reddy: 'Might have added more, but the rawness worked'

As of right now, Shalini Pandey is basking in the admiration she has received for her part in the Netflix series Dabba Cartel. For the actor, working with a predominantly female cast in a crime genre was a "liberating" experience.

Empowering women through her role

The actor told HT City in an interview that the moral components of society are something that many women in rural and small-town regions are attempting to escape. She expressed how incredibly freeing it is to no longer perceive them as helpless victims.

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Shalini Pandey's breakthrough with Arjun Reddy

However, Pandey gained widespread recognition in 2017 when she made her debut in the controversial film Arjun Reddy alongside Vijay Deverakonda. In the same interview, she was asked if she would accept a second chance at the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial debut—in which she plays a strong female character—if given the chance today. The actor stated that she was very convinced at that time. Pandey may have added a bit more now that she is thinking about it. The character needed the honesty, so she thinks it worked out well. Still, she would take the part, albeit she might rethink her approach to collaborating with her director.

For the uninitiated, Vijay Deverakonda plays the role of surgeon and class valedictorian Arjun Reddy. Preethi (Shalini Pandey), a Tulu girl four years his junior, becomes his love interest. They split up because of certain terrible things that happened to them. The remainder of the story is shaped by their journey through life.

Arjun Reddy is available to stream on Prime Video and JioHotstar.

Shalini Pandey's connection with Shabana Azmi

In regard to Dabba Cartel, Pandey attributes her co-starring role with Shabana Azmi to her mom. Her mom played a pivotal role in bringing the veteran actor into her life. The actor's mother used to express her desire for her to collaborate with Azmi and Amitabh Bachchan whenever she entered the film industry.

Dabba Cartel can be streamed exclusively on Netflix.

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