Is Hulu’s Deli Boys Based on a True Story?

Created by Abdullah Saeed, Hulu’s ‘Deli Boys’ tells the story of two South Asian siblings whose lives are upended following the death of their business-magnate father. Subsequently, they are put in charge of his Philadelphia-based convenience store, which turns out to be a front for illegal operations like smuggling, cocaine distribution, and fraud. As such, the two brothers must reconcile their old pampered existence with the realities of underworld crime that was hidden from them growing up. Their exploits often delve into amusing scenarios that combine the interpersonal nature of family bonds with the dangers of a criminal lifestyle. The crime comedy show is rife with absurd and comical moments, all centered on the lies propagated by a father to protect his two unprepared kids and how they try to rise up to the challenge in their own way.

Deli Boys Delves Into the Immigrant Experience With a Fresh Twist

‘Deli Boys’ follows an original story drafted by Feraz Ozel Ellahie, Sudi Green, Nikki Kashani, Kyle Lau, Abdullah Saeed, Mehar Sethi, and Ekaterina Vladimirova. It is mainly fictional despite taking some inspiration from the South Asian immigrant experience. The creator, Abdullah Saeed, grew up in a similar context to the Dar brothers in the series, working from a young age for the businesses operated by his parents. He also witnessed people within the family working in these franchise stores. It informed his choices while developing the script as he tries to portray the struggles faced by his community authentically. However, the big twist in the Hulu series is the revelation that the Dar brothers’ family store is hiding an entirely different world of crime and intrigue. This specific plot point is drawn from the imagination of the creative team.

The inclusion of a criminal angle spices up the formula and allows for a more lighthearted approach. Although the series revolves around the South Asian cultural identity, it also plays with its central subject matter in a comical fashion without taking itself too seriously. Saeed blends the peculiarities of the Pakistani and Indian diaspora without compromising on the laughs and “crazy comedy” that unfolds as the two brothers try to come to grips with their family’s criminal heritage. As a natural progression of their skills, they must develop their own moral compasses while the world around them reacts differently. Asif Ali, who plays Mir Dar, explained, “I think that putting us in a situation where our dad was a mob boss stealing cocaine — that just heightens everything as far as the stakes, and it just makes the comedy and the action better.”

A large chunk of the show’s realism is also down to a commitment by the creative team to portray the cultural specificity of being an Indian or a Pakistani. Rather than explain the cultural markers of each community, the show simply embraces these unique distinctions, such as Hindi and Urdu slang being employed in a callous manner. Characters also take off their shoes soon after entering the front door of a building. These small details contribute massively to an audience’s perception of a show’s realism. Instead of flourishing these cultural differences with extra pizzazz, the writers deliberately layer them within the underlying drama. This way, it portrays the nuances of a South Asian community as part of the fabric of the subject matter itself.

Deli Boys Blends Elements of Crime and Comedy in a Perfect Mix

While cultural identity is a key factor in ‘Deli Boys,’ another critical facet of the show is its tightrope act between drama and comedy as the Dar brothers fall deeper into the underworld. As an ex-journalist, Abdullah Saeed would often canvas reports on music, drugs, and criminal activity, which strangely ended up pushing the envelope when he was developing the script. In an interview, the creator stated that he was inspired by the “unverified stories about stealth and smuggling” he picked up on while covering real world news. Although he was never able to report some of them, they became the basis for exploration in the Hulu series. For instance, the show depicts the stealthy smuggling of illegal goods like drugs, an activity he learned about from his own research.

‘Deli Boys’ tries to go beyond its exploration of the South Asian community by focusing on the personal struggles of the brothers who are trying to understand the nature of their family’s business on a day-to-day basis. Their journey takes them on a dangerous but equally hilarious path that can feel relatable and “very human” despite being exaggerated and heightened for the dramatic effect. As the story develops further, we get a glimpse into the differences between the two siblings and how their contrasting approach leads to a clash of personalities. The series works on multiple layers to depict a story that feels honest and tangible despite its many oddball moments. To that end, the project may be fictional overall, but it maintains a level of realism when it can.