In Season 1 of genre-bending crime comedy series Deli Boys, we witnessed two pampered Pakistani-American brothers being thrown at the deep end after their wealthy convenience-store-magnate father suddenly dies. They lose their wealth, only to discover their family’s deli empire is actually a massive front for a smuggling and drug syndicate.
The praise for its darkly unhinged comedic tone and its unconventional approach to the South Asian immigrant experience has spurred the second season of Deli Boys, which is all set to drop on JioHotstar on May 28.
Joining the cast — led by Poorna Jagannathan, Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali — is prolific stage actor Andrew Rannells (think The Book of Mormon, Girls, and more), who plays antagonist Andrew Chadwater, a Philadelphia district attorney with bold political aspirations, and in direct conflict with the Dar brothers.
In a chat with t2, Rannells — a Grammy winner and a Tony nominee — spoke about his excitement about stepping into the series and more.
What was it like to jump into Deli Boys in Season 2 and what aspect of the actor in you did you get to showcase here?
I loved the first season, I was a big fan. I was so excited and nervous to be asked to join them for Season 2. I think what the show does so well is that it makes its characters deal with these really heightened situations — it gets pretty serious and dark with the drug trafficking and the money laundering — and yet they deal with it in the most hilarious ways possible.
Is that what you think works predominantly for the characters of Deli Boys and the kind of world the makers have built?
Do I want to say that people like to see good people getting away with bad things?! (Laughs) Deli Boys somehow makes me think so. The characters are so lovable and you end up rooting for them. But sometimes, as a viewer, you have to stop and ask yourself: “Wait, what am I actually hoping that they get away with?!”
On the show, my character is supposed to be bringing justice to Philadelphia, but I am like: “I hope these guys get away with the drug deal!” (Laughs) What works therefore, I think, is that though they are criminals, the audience finds these characters to be really sweet.
Besides your own, which character in Deli Boys is your favourite?
I love Lucky! I love Poorna (Jagannathan), who plays the character. She is so good that I could watch her all day doing just about anything on screen. In the show, she is the one keeping everyone in line, and she is so competent.
You have done quite a bit of memorable comedy work in your career so far. How do you feel that the approach to comedy — from makers, actors and viewers — has evolved over the last decade or so, especially on television?
From 10 years ago to today, I would definitely say that there is more opportunity for more voices than there ever was. I started working on television 15 years ago, and today, we have such a diverse group of voices being given a platform, and not just in comedy. But, of course, it is still not enough.
What annoys me a little, though, is that when something that doesn’t fit a formula and it works, and everyone is like: “Oh, we had no idea”. They always seem surprised when something that doesn’t fit on paper and doesn’t fall into the category of previous successes becomes a hit on screen.
Do you see that change being reflected in the quality and variety of the parts that you are offered now?
I would say “yes” and “no”. I would say that for me, Deli Boys is a great example of where I am playing a gay man where the sexual orientation of the character is not the focus of the part... it is only treated like a part of him. The larger headline of who he is is that he is a corrupt jerk (laughs)!
But I still get offered my fair share of the “sassy gay friend”, even though I am in my late 40s now. I am like: “I can’t be the sassy gay friend forever, folks. The sass will wear away at some point!”
A decade later, if you had to put together your three best roles in the form of a lookback, what would you pick?
You mean for my ‘in memorium’ section?! (Laughs out loud)
Goodness no! Your showreel...
I would pick Elder Price from the Book of Mormon. I would pick Elijah from Girls. The third pick is a sort of cheat because the film hasn’t come out. It is a movie for HBO called Miss You, Love You with Allison Janney. I really fell in love with the character and the whole situation he is in.
Other than your own work, anything you watched recently and loved?
Richard Gadd has a new show called Half Man. An episode comes out every Thursday night and I watch it religiously. I really admire the way Richard tells stories. I thought his Baby Reindeer was incredible. I am so happy that he made another show after Baby Reindeer and was given space to tell another story.
Half Man is an upsetting show, it is not an easy watch. The writing on the show is incredible and Jamie Bell’s acting is incredible!
My favourite international film/series with South Asian protagonists is ... Tell t2@abp.in