Cartel is a 2021 Hindi crime drama set in Mumbai’s underworld, where five powerful groups maintain an uneasy balance of power. At the centre of that arrangement is Rani Maai, the formidable head of the Angre family, whose authority has helped prevent an all-out gang war for years.
That balance collapses after an attack on Rani Maai. Her family is forced into a dangerous fight involving rival gangs, betrayals, business interests and internal tensions. Supriya Pathak, Rithvik Dhanjani, Tanuj Virwani and Jitendra Joshi lead the ensemble. The first season has 14 episodes and premiered on August 20, 2021.
Cartel Web Series Cast
Supriya Pathak as Rani Maai
Supriya Pathak plays Rani Maai, the powerful matriarch at the centre of the Angre family. She is respected and feared across Mumbai’s criminal network because she has managed to keep rival gangs from destroying one another. The attack on her becomes the event that sets the entire season in motion.
Rithvik Dhanjani as Abhay Angre
Rithvik Dhanjani plays Abhay Angre, one of the younger members of the Angre family. Abhay is deeply tied to the family’s power structure but also has a more personal storyline involving Maya. As the gang conflict grows, he is forced to make choices that bring love, loyalty and revenge into direct conflict.
Tanuj Virwani as Major Bhau
Tanuj Virwani appears as Major Bhau, also known as Arjun. He is one of the Angre family’s key men and has a disciplined, strategic approach to danger. After Rani Maai is attacked, Major Bhau plays an important role in keeping the family together while preparing its response.
Jitendra Joshi as Madhu Bhau
Jitendra Joshi plays Madhu Bhau, another major figure within the Angre camp. Madhu is volatile, emotional and quick to use violence, which often makes him one of the most unpredictable members of the family.
Tannishtha Chatterjee as Romila
Tannishtha Chatterjee plays Romila, a character who becomes part of the wider network of personal and criminal relationships surrounding the Angres. Her presence adds another layer to the shifting loyalties within the story.
Monica Dogra as Maya
Monica Dogra plays Maya. Her relationship with Abhay develops alongside the main gang-war storyline, but Maya also has her own connections and motives. As a result, the romance never remains separate from the power struggle around the Angre family.
Samir Soni as Dorabjee
Samir Soni appears as Dorabjee, one of the influential players in the larger struggle for control. His moves become increasingly important as alliances change and the Angres face threats from more than one direction.
Divya Agarwal as Grissey
Divya Agarwal plays Grissey, one of the supporting characters connected with the criminal world of the series. Her role adds to the large ensemble surrounding the rival gangs.
Girija Oak as Rama
Girija Oak plays Rama, a member of the Angre household whose life is directly affected by the escalating conflict. Her character helps show the personal cost of the violence surrounding the family.
Pranati Rai Prakash as Sumi
Pranati Rai Prakash appears as Sumi. Her storyline develops alongside the internal relationships and rivalries that complicate the larger battle for control.
Other notable cast members include:
- Deipak Sampat as Pintya
- Nabeel Mirajkar as Farhan Khan
- Kannan Arunachalam as Anna
- Shubhrajyoti Barat as Gajraj
- Anil George as Khan
- Amey Wagh as Dhaval
- Aditi Vasudev as Shweta
- Sushrii Shreya Mishraa as Vaidehi
- Keval Dasani as Rubal
- Mrinal Dutt as Yograj
- Krishna Kaul as Javed
- Ashwath Bhatt as Chairman
Cartel Web Series Crew
Cartel was written by Sambit Mishra and Monish Talpade across its 14-episode season. Prashant Bhagia is associated with the direction of the series, while Sunil Manchanda is credited as the principal producer. The technical team includes Rajiv Singh as cinematographer and Prashant Panda as editor.
- Direction: Prashant Bhagia
- Writers: Sambit Mishra and Monish Talpade
- Producer: Sunil Manchanda
- Executive Producers: Dheeman Agarwala, Anup Magar, Salik Shaikh and Yuvika Bharti Sharma
- Supervising Producer: Sanjeevv Gosswami
- Cinematography: Rajiv Singh
- Editor: Prashant Panda
- Music: Bharatt Hans and Saurabh Malhotra
- Production Design: Rahul Kurup and Preetam Rai
- Costume Designer: Nikhat Neerusha
- Casting: Ankit Alex and Sahaj Bhadoria
Cartel Web Series Story
Cartel revolves around five powerful criminal groups operating across Mumbai. Each controls a different part of the city’s underground economy, including smuggling, gambling, extortion and other illegal businesses. The arrangement survives because Rani Maai has established a system that prevents open war between them.
When Rani Maai is shot and critically injured, that system begins to collapse. The Angre family immediately starts searching for the attacker, while rival gangs sense an opportunity to improve their own position. Suspicion spreads quickly because almost every major group has a reason to benefit from Rani Maai’s removal.
Major Bhau tries to maintain order, while Madhu Bhau responds more aggressively. Abhay becomes involved in both the family conflict and his growing relationship with Maya. At the same time, figures such as Anna, Gajraj, Khan, Chairman and Dorabjee pursue their own interests.
The season gradually reveals that the attack is only one part of a much larger power game. Personal relationships are repeatedly used as pressure points, and alliances that appear secure can change without warning. The Angres must therefore fight both external enemies and divisions within their own world.
As Rani Maai returns to the centre of events, the battle becomes increasingly destructive. Revenge, leadership and control of the Angre empire drive the closing episodes, which push the family into a confrontation where survival matters as much as victory.
How Many Episodes Are There in Cartel?
Cartel has one season with 14 episodes. All 14 episodes were released on August 20, 2021.
The season begins with The First Family of the Business and continues through episodes such as Mene Rani Maai ko maara, Eid toh ek bahana hai, Shani Dosham, Teen Chitaye and Rani Maai. The finale is titled Phool & Phinal Hisaab!.
Cartel OTT Platform and Release Date
Cartel premiered on August 20, 2021 and was originally distributed through ALTBalaji and MX Player. The show later remained available on MX Player for several years.
As of September 2026, Cartel is not currently listed as available to stream in India on the major services tracked for current availability. Its last recorded MX Player availability ended in October 2024. Viewers should therefore check current platform listings rather than assuming the series is still available on its original service.
What Kind of Series Is Cartel?
Cartel is an ensemble crime drama built around gang politics, family loyalty and succession. Although the story contains romance and personal subplots, its main focus remains the struggle for control after the Angre family’s position is suddenly weakened.
The large cast allows the series to move between several rival groups rather than treating the conflict as a simple hero-versus-villain story. Rani Maai and the Angre family remain the centre of the narrative, but much of the tension comes from never knowing which rival, ally or family member may change the balance of power next.
