‘Deli Boys’ Stars Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh Always Audition for the Same Parts: Usually, ‘There’s Only One Brown Character’

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In the Onyx Collective comedy series “Deli Boys,” Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh portray brothers, a fact that brings comfort to Shaikh due to their shared history. Discussing with EbMaster, Shaikh mentioned that he has frequently lost roles to Ali in the past, a pattern he attributes to the limited chances for South Asian actors in Hollywood.

Typically, during my auditions, I’m often the only character of color considered,” Shaikh stated. However, when Shaikh came across the “Deli Boys” pilot script, he decided to audition for the part of Mir Dar. Yet, his representatives shared some disappointingly familiar news.

Shaikh was eagerly anticipating the call, and when it came, they told him, ‘There’s some news about Mir. They’ve made an offer, but it’s not for you.’ He asked, ‘Is it Asif Ali?’ And indeed, it was.” Shaikh replied with a chuckle, “He always does this to me!”

Or more informally:

“Shaikh was on edge waiting for the call. When it finally came, they said, ‘There’s news about Mir, but it’s not good news for you.’ He wondered, ‘Is it Asif Ali?’ Turned out it was. Shaikh laughed and said, ‘He always does this to me!’

It’s fortunate that the producers had planned for Shaikh to play Mir’s brother, Raj. Interestingly, this allows both Ali and Shaikh to appear in the same series, which is remarkable because “Deli Boys” boasts an almost entirely South Asian cast, a rarity in the Hollywood setting.

Ali considers this a personal accomplishment, but it’s not what he or others from the series are most proud of. Instead, he believes that the show’s humor and its distinctively unusual narrative are what they should be most proud of. It places us in a world we’ve never encountered before.

The series revolves around brothers Mir (Ali) and Raj (Shaikh), who are pampered members of a Pakistani-American family. They uncover a shocking truth about their father’s business – it’s not just an ordinary enterprise, but a cover for drug trafficking. The show was conceived by Abdullah Saeed, whose personal experiences growing up in a Pakistani household served as the foundation for the primary characters.

Ali mentioned that Raj and Mir are essentially two different aspects of a single personality and background, divided. Essentially, Raj embodies the carefree, rule-breaking, and somewhat rebellious character, while Mir represents the responsible, achievement-oriented, and traditional side, reflecting the value placed on hard work and adherence to rules to honor their parents’ sacrifices.

Despite the fact that smoking marijuana doesn’t always have its benefits, Shaikh resorted to it in his attempt to secure a part on the show. In an endeavor to make contact with Saeed, who boasts an extensive background in the cannabis industry as a journalist, Shaikh presented himself at Saeed’s doorstep with the most expensive joint he could find. This was in reference to the role of Raj, which Saeed had initially planned to perform himself.

He mentioned that he no longer smokes flowers, but suggested trying some dabs instead, asking if I’ve ever tried it before. I responded affirmatively, although I had never done so before. After taking a few hits from the dab rig, I found myself in another world, amazingly,” Shaikh explained.

Luckily, it proved worthwhile, for Shaikh and Ali displayed a natural camaraderie on-screen, portraying convincing brotherly bonds. As their characters become increasingly embroiled in the dangerous world of organized crime, the humor becomes more pronounced, mirroring the escalating violence.

As a fan, I must admit, I’ve never found myself in a role quite like this one. It’s unique because it allows me to explore both sides of the coin. The creative team does an exceptional job, subtly building up suspense and then alleviating it with humor, which is simply brilliant!

“Deli Boys” debuts on Hulu on March 6.

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2025-03-08 00:38