The new Hulu/Onyx series “Deli Boys” isn’t just a high-stakes comedy about two spoiled brothers thrown into the criminal underworld—it’s also a sharp and heartfelt exploration of identity, family, and the first-generation immigrant experience. For stars Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh, who play Raj and Mir, that aspect of the show felt deeply personal.
In this exclusive interview, the duo opens up about bringing Raj and Mir to life—two brothers forced to swap luxury for survival after discovering their late father’s not-so-legal empire. Here’s the official synopsis: After their deli-tycoon father suddenly dies, Raj and Mir Dar, a pair of spoiled Pakistani-American brothers, lose everything and find out that their Baba was more drug lord than corporate magnate. The freaked-out boys are ushered kicking and screaming (literally) into the underworld by their Lucky Auntie and her nemesis Ahmad Uncle. As Raj and Mir fumble from one ridiculous catastrophe to the next, every move they make is life or death. Because when your trust fund is gone, so is the luxury of screwing up. Watch the trailer below.
In our discussion with Ali and Shaikh, they noted how growing up as children of immigrants shaped their connection to the characters and the show’s chaotic, culture-clashing humor.
“Yeah, I think we’re both children of immigrants and that kind of chaotic energy—maybe not to the same extent that it is on the show—was something that I didn’t realize was a thing that my friends who were not children of immigrants did not have,” Ali shared.
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That “chaotic energy” often came from having to explain American customs to their parents—something many first-generation kids can relate to. Ali recalled a specific moment from his teenage years when he had to explain prom to his parents, highlighting the cultural gap between them.
“I had to have a full sit-down conversation to be like, so we ask someone out and we go to a dance, and they’re like, ‘Are you married to this person?’ And I go, ‘No.’ And they go, ‘Then why would you do this? Why would you go to someone’s house, take their daughter, and go to a dance if it’s not to a wedding? What is this?’”
Shaikh added another layer to the experience, pointing out that first-generation kids often had to navigate their parents’ “scarcity mindset” as well.
“I remember I went to prom, but I had a date, and I didn’t tell my parents,” Shaikh admitted. “I had to keep it a secret, but I also couldn’t ask my parents for money to go in the limo with her and all of her friends. So I had to pick her up, and we drove behind the limo.”
Beyond the humor in these situations, both actors emphasized how “Deli Boys” authentically captures the first-gen experience—particularly the way immigrant kids often have to serve as cultural translators for their families.
“There is this chaos thing of—we’re all trying to figure things out together,” Ali explained. “It’s just that energy of there’s all this unknown stuff and discovery that I think was a great thing to have experienced because it helped with the show.”
With “Deli Boys” blending crime, comedy, and cultural identity in a fresh and hilarious way, Ali and Shaikh’s personal experiences bring even more authenticity to their characters. Watch our full conversation with the pair below.
“Deli Boys” was created by Abdullah Saeed and developed by Jenni Konner and Nora Silver under Jenni Konner Productions. Michelle Nader, who also serves as showrunner, is an executive producer alongside Saeed, Konner and Silver. All ten episodes debut March 6 on Hulu.
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