The “Deli Boys” would not be anywhere without a happy aunt.
Although the new Onyx Collective Comedy focuses on Pakistani American brothers Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj (Saagar Shaikh), the duo would be completely helpless without Lucky, played by Poorna Jagannathan. Jagannathan steals every scene in which she finds herself, especially because of her impressive presence and comic timing – but not least because of her wardrobe.
“Happiness is all the shoulders,” Jagannathan said in an interview with Variety. “She just wears the world on her quilted shoulders … the fashion reference that [costume designer] Cailey Breneman has set the Moodbord, these actresses are Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi. These are the 70s Bollywood actresses who have just broken boundaries and are sexy like fucking and just fantastic. ”
Jagannathan is still relatively new in comedy, although she has played comic roles in shows such as “Never Have I ever” and films such as “Delhi Belly” and “Wolfs” prior to “Deli Boys”. Yet she admits that she needed help to bring down the rhythm of the American comedy.
“I would have the writers, including [“Never Have I Ever’s”] Long Fisher takes up the lines for me so that I could hear the comedy, “she said. “Because I am not American and did not grow up on the American comedy, so the timing is a bit different from the Indian comedy … It is difficult and I didn’t trust myself.”
That lack of confidence in itself is surprising, given that she has some of the funniest moments in ‘Deli Boys’. But more than comedy, Jagannathan said that an important aspect of “Deli Boys” was better representations for South Asians in American media.
“How do you move our South Asians from the clou to the plot line? I’m really in it for the community, “she said. “I try to play every role with an Indian accent, because our accent has been so fooled over the years.”
“Deli Boys” now streams at Hulu/Onyx Collective