‘Deli Boys’ Stars Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh Audition for the same parts

Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh play brothers in the Onyx Collective Comedy series “Deli Boys”, to the great relief of Shaikh. Creeks with Variety, Shaikh noted that over the years he often lost roles to Ali, given the lack of opportunities for South Asian actors in Hollywood.

“Usually when I have an audition for something, she is only one brown character,” said Shaikh. When Shaikh became aware of the pilot script “Deli Boys”, he auditioned for the role of Mir Dar. But then representatives were known news.

“I was anxiously waiting for the phone, and when I got, they were:” So we have something new. They have made an offer for MIR, and it’s not for you. “And I had something like:” Is it ASIF Ali? ” “It was it. “He does it to me every time!” “Shaikh said laughing.

Fortunately, the producers had a different role in mind for Shaikh: Mir’s brother, Raj. The fact that both Ali and Shaikh can both shine in the same show comes from the unique fact that “Deli Boys” has a mostly South Asian cast -a real rarity in the Hollywood landscape.

Although Ali regards that as an achievement, he said that this is not the reason that he and others from the show are so proud of it. “I think it is overarching the fact that the show is really funny and it is such a unique story,” he said. “It places us in a world that we have not seen.”

The show focuses on brothers Mir (Ali) and Raj (Shaikh), two spoiled Pakistani Americans who learn that their father’s business empire is actually a front for drug smuggling. The show was made by Abdullah Saeed, whose life as the son of a Pakistani family inspired the two main characters.

“Raj and Mir are actually two parts of his personality and upbringing in two,” said Ali. “So the character of RAJ is more of the weed smoking, rebellious, free wheels … A kind of deal. Then Mir is a kind of: “Oh my god, our parents have worked so hard, so we have to overperform, and we should do everything to the book to honor that our parents have made.” ‘

Although, it appears that smoking weed can sometimes pay off. In an attempt to get a role in the show, Shaikh joined Saeed, who as a journalist has a long resume in the cannabis room. Shaikh said he came to Saeed’s door with ‘the most expensive blunt [he] could find ‘to discuss the role of Raj, who originally wanted to play Saeed.

“He says,” I don’t really smoke any flowers anymore, but we could do some cables. Have you ever done it before? “And I had something like:” Yes, “said Shaikh.” I never had it. And so I took a few DAB Rips, and oh my God, I was just somewhere else, man. ”

Fortunately, it paid off, with Shaikh and Ali shared easy chemistry on the screen as brothers. And as their characters are pulled deeper into the criminal underworld, the comedy increases in direct relationship to the violence.

“I have never been to a show like this that we play both parties,” said Ali. And I think what [the creative team] Is that so great in the show that they build these moments a bit and then be able to break the tension with the comedy. “

“Deli Boys” debuts on Hulu on March 6.