Deli Boys
Deli Boys is an American crime comedy series created by Abdullah Saeed. The series follows two Pakistani-American brothers whose lives are upended after the sudden death of their father reveals his criminal enterprise. Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan, Alfie Fuller, and Brian George star. The 10-episode series premiered on Hulu on March 6, 2025 to positive critical reception. In August 2025, the series was renewed for a second season.
Plot
After their multimillionaire father's sudden death, hardworking Mir and party boy Raj are thrust into Dark DarCo, their father's drug empire that they knew nothing about. With the help of one of Baba's closest consiglieres, Lucky, they juggle managing the illegal enterprise and the public-facing company, DarCo, while concealing their activities from their loved ones.Cast
Main
- Asif Ali as Mir Dar, who is hardworking and eager to impress his father
- Saagar Shaikh as Raj Dar, a pothead party boy happy to live off his family wealth
- Alfie Fuller as Prairie, Raj's shaman and an afrofuturist hipster
- Poorna Jagannathan as Naveeda "Lucky", Baba's closest confidante and a leader in the enterprise
- Brian George as Ahmad, a striver seeking the top spot at DarCo
- Fred Armisen
Recurring
- Kevin Corrigan as Chickie Lozano, an Italian American crime boss
- Alexandra Ruddy, as Agent Mercer, an ambitious FBI agent
- Tim Baltz as Director Simpson, regional director of the FBI
- Zainne Saleh as Bushra, Mir's fiancée
- Sakina Jaffrey as Seema, Bushra's mother
- Amita Rao as Nandika, a cosplayer with a crush on Raj
- Anish Jethmalani as Patika, the kindhearted owner of an Indian restaurant
- Minita Gandhi as Latika, Patika's wife
- Iqbal Theba as Arshad "Baba" Dar, the father of Mir and Raj and the head of a criminal enterprise
- Jake Prizant as Matthew, Baba's assistant
- Sofia Black-D'Elia as Gigi, Chickie Lozano's daughter
Guest
- Geoffrey Arend as Ralph, who oversees cocaine production
- Azhar Usman as Feraz Khan, head of compliance
- Lily Sullivan as Janet, Ralph's wife
- Shahjehan Khan as Ali "Paneer" Sahir, head of distribution
- Tan France as Zubair, a South London gang leader
Episodes
Production
The series Deli Boys was ordered for a pilot by Onyx Collective in October 2022. On May 11, 2023 it was announced that Onyx Collective picked up the comedy series Deli Boys for a 10-episode order. The series was created by Abdullah Saeed and developed in collaboration with executive producers Jenni Konner and Nora Silver. Vali Chandrasekaran, Nisha Ganatra, and Michelle Nader are also executive producers. Deli Boys is the first scripted series created by Saeed. He named The Godfather, Hogan's Heroes, Bored to Death, and Office Space as influences for the show.Deli Boys was filmed in Chicago, which began in January 2024 after a delay in production resultant from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Filming wrapped on April 5, 2024. Filming locations include Essence of India in Lincoln Square, Rogers Park, 2330 W Wilson Avenue, and McKinley Park.
In October 2022, Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Alfie Fuller were announced as main cast members. Ten additional cast members were announced on May 3, 2024: recurring cast members Kevin Corrigan, Alexandra Ruddy, Tim Baltz, Zainne Saleh, Sakina Jaffrey, Amita Rao, Anish Jethmalani, and Minita Gandhi; and guest stars Geoffrey Arend and Azhar Usman. Poorna Jagannathan and Brian George were also announced as main cast members. On January 26, 2025, fashion stylist and Queer Eye star Tan France was announced as a guest star in the role of Zubair, a well-dressed gang leader. It is his first acting role. In August 2025, Hulu renewed the series for a second season, with Fred Armisen joining the cast as a new series regular.
Release
Deli Boys premiered at Sundance 2025 in January. A teaser trailer was released on January 30, 2025. The series became available for streaming on Hulu in the United States on March 6, 2025. Internationally, Deli Boys was released on Disney+.Reception
Viewership
TVision, using its Power Score to evaluate CTV programming through viewership and engagement across over 1,000 apps, calculated that Deli Boys was the eleventh most-streamed series from March 3–9. The series ranked No. 14 on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list—a daily updated list of the platform's most-watched titles—on March 7. Deli Boys maintained the same position at No. 14 on Hulu on March 11. The streaming aggregator Reelgood, which tracks real-time data from 20 million U.S. users for original and acquired content across SVOD and AVOD services, reported that it ranked as the tenth most-streamed show in the U.S. for the week ending March 12. Market research company Parrot Analytics, which looks at consumer engagement in consumer research, streaming, downloads, and on social media, reported that Deli Boys reached demand levels 9.9 times the average show in the United Kingdom during March 2025. This performance placed it in the top 2.7% of all TV shows by demand, with a 112.7% increase in audience demand over the month. The show ranked in the 98th percentile for the comedy genre.Critical response
On Metacritic, the series holds a weighted average score of 74/100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.Devan Suber from IGN gave Deli Boys a rating of 9 out of 10, calling it a standout crime comedy with sharp humor, cultural relevance, and fast-paced dialogue. He praised Jagannathan's performance, naming her one of the best new TV characters of the year. While Suber noted that lead actors Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali took some time to settle into their roles, he found the series consistently engaging. He also appreciated how Deli Boys highlighted aspects of the Pakistani immigrant experience without losing its comedic focus. Kourtnee Jackson from CNET described Deli Boys as a wildly entertaining mix of dark comedy, crime drama, and action, comparing it to Weeds and The Brothers Sun. She highlighted the strong chemistry between Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh as the Dar brothers and praised Jagannathan's performance as a memorable mentor. Although Jackson questioned the moral aspects of the characters' actions, she ultimately found the series engaging and entertaining.
Tania Hussain of Collider appreciated the show for its fast-paced, irreverent humor and sharp writing, blending absurd situations with authentic cultural elements. She found the performances of Ali and Shaikh to be particularly impressive, noting their strong chemistry and impeccable comedic timing. Hussain stated that the supporting cast, especially Jagannathan, added depth to the show. She complimented the series for its unpredictable storytelling, vibrant character dynamics, and unique mix of comedy and crime. Alison Herman of Variety stated that Deli Boys provides a fresh take on the crime comedy genre, using farcical humor to explore mafia tropes from a Pakistani American perspective. She praised the show's blend of dark comedy and cultural specificity. Jagannathan's portrayal of Auntie Lucky was noted as a standout performance, and the show's quick pacing and sitcom-style storytelling added to its appeal. However, Herman felt the series lacked emotional depth but concluded that Deli Boys remains a unique and engaging addition to Hulu's lineup.