In today’s landscape of diverse American television, a show featuring a predominantly South Asian, particularly Muslim cast is significantly rare, but Deli Boys boldly steps up to the challenge.
After a 5-year journey filled with setbacks and industry hurdles, Deli Boys has finally made its way to Hulu. The series, created by Abdullah Saeed, tells a gripping story about two Muslim brothers, a rarity in American television.
Despite facing difficulties securing a studio, executive producer Jenni Konner is quick to clarify that the challenges weren’t related to the show’s diverse cast. Instead, it was the bold, risky content.
Deli Boys‘ executive producer Jenni Konne revealed the real risk of securing a studio was the heavy violence
The journey of bringing Deli Boys to Hulu was anything but easy. Executive producer Jenni Konner recently sat down with IndieWire to discuss the show’s development process. When discussing the show’s difficulty in securing a studio, Konner clarified that the challenges weren’t related to the show’s Brown cast or its portrayal of a Muslim family.
Rather, she revealed it was the show’s content which included heavy violence and crime, elements that studios found risky. Konner explained,
It was a pretty risky show. There was a lot of violence, a lot of crime, and I think that people were a little afraid of it, because nothing like that existed. And sometimes, if people can’t see it on TV already, or some version ot it, they don’t what it is.
Despite the genre’s potential for controversy, Konner saw the heart of the show in its family-centric narrative. She appreciated the fact that it told a sweet family set against a Muslim lens, without focusing solely on the immigrant experience. She said, “It’s very plot-heavy, really with a Muslim lens on it.” The blend of a family drama with crime elements makes Deli Boys stand out in a landscape of similar shows.
It took 5 years in the making of Deli Boys
Konner revealed the project took 5 years to get to the screen and faced a series of hurdles. From shifting studios to industry disruption caused by labor strikes and even the COVID-19 pandemic, it caused a lot of trouble to the show’s production.
Konner first encountered the show’s sample before the pandemic, quickly recognizing its unique voice. The show, created by Abdullah Saeed, tells the story of two brothers, Raj and Mir, played by Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali.
They inherit their father’s Philadelphia deli after his death, thrusting them into a chaotic world of crime and family drama. The cast also includes Poorna Jagannathan, Alfie Fuller, and Brian George. Konner also praised Saeed for being very collaborative, despite being new in show creation.
The show’s development began five years ago when Konner and her producing partner, Nora Silver, first saw the script. The duo immediately recognized its potential and began refining the project.
However, pitching it to studios proved difficult. Konner recalls that Deli Boys was met with resistance, with many studios hesitant to take it on. “We went to a million networks, and honestly, no one wanted it except for Onyx,” she shared. Eventually, Onyx Collective saw the show’s potential and understood its vision, backing it for production.
Despite the setbacks, the show is now making its mark, thanks to the determination of the creators, producers and the unwavering support of Onyx Collective.
Deli Boys is streaming on Hulu.
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