Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Deli Boys, which brings us a hilarious yet heartfelt crime comedy about two Pakistani-American brothers who discover their beloved father’s convenience store empire was just a front for something much darker.
The 10-episode series premiered on Hulu on March 6, 2025 and has already garnered positive critical reception. Created by Abdullah Saeed, this Onyx Collective production runs approximately 30 minutes per episode and perfectly balances family dysfunction with criminal chaos. A tasty crime caper where the laughs come first, Deli Boys busts a gut with Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh’s bumbling chemistry and Poorna Jagannathan’s scene-stealing turn, making it one of Hulu’s most entertaining new offerings.
The series tackles themes of identity, family expectations, and the American Dream gone sideways, all while delivering laugh-out-loud moments that never diminish the emotional weight of two sons grappling with their father’s secret legacy. It’s Breaking Bad meets Arrested Development with a distinctly Pakistani-American flavor that feels both universal and refreshingly specific.
From Spoiled Sons to Reluctant Criminals
When their convenience store-magnate father dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba’s secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld. What starts as a typical inheritance story quickly spirals into absurd criminal territory when Mir and Raj discover their father’s chain of convenience stores was actually a sophisticated drug operation.
After their multimillionaire father’s sudden death, hardworking Mir (Asif Ali) and party boy Raj (Saagar Shaikh) are thrust into Dark DarCo, their father’s drug empire that they knew nothing about. The brothers couldn’t be more different in their approaches to this shocking revelation. Mir, the responsible one, wants to find a way to legitimize the business, while Raj sees an opportunity for easy money and excitement.
The genius of the show lies in how it subverts typical crime drama tropes. Instead of hardened criminals, we get two completely unprepared sons who have to learn the ropes while dealing with grief, family expectations, and their own personal shortcomings. Each episode builds the tension as they navigate deeper into their father’s world while trying to maintain the facade of running simple convenience stores.
Mir: The Reluctant Leader with a Conscience
Asif Ali delivers a standout performance as Mir, the older brother who suddenly finds himself responsible for both his family’s legacy and their survival. Mir represents the first-generation immigrant’s child who has tried to do everything right, only to discover that his foundation was built on lies.
Ali brings nuance to what could have been a thankless straight-man role. Mir’s internal conflict between wanting to honor his father’s memory and being horrified by his methods creates genuine dramatic tension. He’s constantly trying to apply legitimate business principles to an illegitimate enterprise, leading to both comedic and touching moments.
The character’s evolution throughout the season is remarkable. Mir starts as someone who believes he can control and sanitize the situation, but gradually realizes that some stains can’t be washed clean. Ali’s performance captures both the comedy of his character’s naivety and the tragedy of his lost innocence.
Raj: The Party Boy Finding Purpose
Saagar Shaikh brings infectious energy to Raj, the younger brother who has spent his life coasting on charm and his family’s wealth. Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh, who play brothers in Hulu’s Onyx Collective comedy series “Deli Boys,” are always auditioning for the same parts, but their on-screen chemistry proves they were perfectly cast as siblings.
Raj’s journey from irresponsible party boy to someone who genuinely cares about the family business provides some of the series’ most satisfying character development. Shaikh finds the humanity in Raj’s seemingly selfish exterior, showing us a young man who has never been asked to step up but rises to the occasion when given the chance.
The dynamic between the brothers anchors the entire series. Their bickering feels authentic, their love for each other genuine, and their complete incompetence at running a criminal enterprise absolutely hilarious. Shaikh and Ali have created one of television’s most entertaining sibling relationships.
The Criminal Ecosystem
Poorna Jagannathan as “Lucky” Alfie Fuller as “Prairie” Brian George as “Ahmad” round out a supporting cast that brings depth and color to the brothers’ new world. Jagannathan particularly shines as Lucky, a character who becomes both mentor and potential threat to the inexperienced siblings.
Brian George, familiar to audiences from countless comedic roles, brings gravitas to Ahmad while maintaining the show’s comedic tone. The supporting characters never feel like mere plot devices; each has their own motivations and relationship to the brothers’ father that add layers to the central mystery.
The series does an excellent job of building out the ecosystem surrounding the convenience store operation, showing how many people depended on their father’s business and now find themselves at the mercy of his untrained sons.
Success on Hulu
Deli Boys premiered at Sundance 2025 in January before finding its streaming home, and the festival exposure clearly paid off. The series has been praised for its authentic portrayal of Pakistani-American family dynamics while delivering the kind of crime comedy that Hulu audiences have come to expect from their original programming.
The show benefits from Hulu’s commitment to diverse storytelling through their Onyx Collective initiative, giving creator Abdullah Saeed the platform to tell a story that feels both culturally specific and universally relatable. Two young Pakistani-American men embark on a riotous rite of passage from spoilt brats to criminal types perfectly captures the show’s blend of coming-of-age story and crime caper.
Critics have particularly praised the series’ ability to find humor in dark situations without ever making light of the real consequences of criminal activity. It’s a delicate balance that the show maintains throughout its 10-episode run.
If you love stories about family secrets, cultural identity, and brothers learning to work together despite their differences, Deli Boys is the perfect series to binge on Hulu. It’s a show that proves the best crime comedies are ultimately about family, even when that family legacy comes with a body count.
A brilliantly crafted series that uses convenience store crime as a backdrop for a deeper story about family, identity, and the complicated legacy parents leave their children.
Series Details:
Number of Episodes: 10
Platform: Hulu (US) / Disney+ (International)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Genre: Crime Comedy
Protagonists: Asif Ali (Mir), Saagar Shaikh (Raj)
Antagonist: The criminal underworld and family legacy (systemic/internal conflicts)