Yeh business, family ya loyalty se nahi, sirf power se chalta hai! Watch #Cartel, releasing on 20 August on MX Gold, our premium …

---

The Empire Strikes Back: Decoding the Power-Packed Action in ‘Cartel’ Official Trailer 2 on MX Player

The world of Indian web series witnessed a massive upheaval with the launch of the action-drama Cartel, and its trailer campaigns, particularly the Official Trailer 2, effectively cemented its place as a must-watch crime thriller on MX Player. The series promised a colossal gangster drama, delivered by an ensemble cast and a high-octane narrative centered on family, betrayal, and the ruthless pursuit of power in the heart of Mumbai.

The trailer release immediately became a talking point, primarily for showcasing veteran actress Supriya Pathak in a completely new, formidable avatar, alongside the transformation of popular stars like Rithvik Dhanjani and Tanuj Virwani. It was a clear signal that this production, from Balaji Telefilms, was gunning for an epic scale, featuring a massive cast of 137 actors and a storyline steeped in the gritty reality of Mumbai’s underworld.

The Throne of Mumbai: What the Trailer Reveals

The plot of Cartel is set against the backdrop of Mumbai, a city divided among five powerful crime-lords. For years, a precarious peace was maintained through a treaty orchestrated by the undisputed leader of the Angre family—the fierce matriarch, Rani Maai. The Official Trailer 2 quickly established the foundation of this empire before tearing it all down.

The core conflict explodes with a shocking attack on Rani Maai (Supriya Pathak). This single, violent event shatters the fragile truce between the five gangs, throwing the entire city’s underworld into chaos. The central mystery of the series—”Who shot Rani Maai?”—becomes the driving force, sparking a brutal power struggle. The trailer’s hard-hitting dialogue, “Yeh business, family ya loyalty se nahi, sirf power se chalta hai!” (This business runs not on family or loyalty, but only on power!), perfectly encapsulates the theme of the show.

With the matriarch sidelined, the trailer focuses on her three sons—the Angre brothers—who must now step up to avenge the attack and prevent their empire from collapsing. Their scramble for revenge and control forms the crux of the ensuing 14-episode, action-packed drama, as they navigate betrayal and the ambitions of rival gangs.

The Angre Family: Supriya Pathak and Her Three Sons

The casting was one of the biggest strengths highlighted in the trailer, introducing established and popular faces in never-before-seen roles, particularly within the ‘Angre’ crime family.

Supriya Pathak as Rani Maai

Known for her versatile and often comedic or warm roles, Supriya Pathak transformed into the cold-blooded gang leader, Rani Maai.

• The Matriarch: She is the iron lady of the Angre family, the one who established the treaty that kept the five Mumbai gangs in check.
• A Force of Nature: Dressed in a fierce Maharashtrian-style Nauvari saree, the trailer positions her as a fearless leader and the rock of her family, making the attack on her all the more devastating and consequential.

Tanuj Virwani as Major Bhau

Tanuj Virwani, known for his work in other web series, plays Ex-Major Arjun Mhatre, or ‘Major Bhau.’

• The Stoic Soldier: Major Bhau is the sensible, stoic step-brother, who had a military past before turning his focus to protecting his family’s criminal enterprise. The trailer shows him as a figure ready for the power play, driven by a desperate need for revenge.

Rithvik Dhanjani as Abhay Angre

Rithvik Dhanjani shed his popular television heartthrob image to embody the complex character of Abhay Angre.

• The Brat with an Edge: Abhay is Rani Maai’s biological son, who believes he is the rightful heir to the throne. He is depicted as a “taking time bomb”—innocent and loving at one moment, yet prone to rash, power-driven decisions, a character whose lust for power surpasses blood ties.

Beyond the Angres: A Multi-Starrer Spectacle

The sheer scale of the series is evident from its cast list, which includes other prominent names like Divya Agarwal, Monica Dogra, Samir Soni, and Jitendra Joshi (as Madhu Bhau, the third Angre brother). The presence of so many characters underscores the depth of the Mumbai underworld narrative, involving not just the five crime lords but also the intricate entanglement of political, judicial, and corporate bodies in their illegal operations. This expansive canvas ensured that the series was a full-fledged crime saga, promising a constant barrage of twists, deceit, and intense action sequences that the trailer teased expertly.

Cartel delivered on the promise of its gripping trailers, offering a fast-paced, complex crime drama. For fans of the genre, the battle for supremacy and the internal family dynamics of the Angres, fueled by the attempted assassination of Rani Maai, made this series an engrossing binge-watch.

---

AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: What is the main plot of the web series Cartel?

A: Cartel is an action-drama and crime thriller web series set in Mumbai, revolving around the powerful Angre family, led by the matriarch Rani Maai. The plot centers on the fallout and ensuing power struggle that erupts among her three sons—Major Bhau, Abhay, and Madhu Bhau—and rival gangs after an assassination attempt is made on Rani Maai, breaking a long-standing peace treaty that governed the city’s underworld.

Q2: Who are the main actors in Cartel on MX Player?

A: The main cast members highlighted in the trailer are Supriya Pathak as Rani Maai, Tanuj Virwani as Major Bhau (Arjun Mhatre), and Rithvik Dhanjani as Abhay Angre. The series also features a massive ensemble cast including Jitendra Joshi, Divya Agarwal, Monica Dogra, and Samir Soni, among others.

Q3: Where and when did the Cartel web series release?

A: The Cartel web series, consisting of 14 episodes, was released on August 20, 2021. It streamed on MX Player’s subscription service, MX Gold, and was also available on ALTBalaji.

Q4: What kind of character does Supriya Pathak play in Cartel?

A: Supriya Pathak plays the role of Rani Maai, the fierce and influential matriarch of the Angre crime family. Her character is a powerful gang leader, shown in a tough, non-traditional avatar, who holds the entire criminal operation together until the attack on her life.