Poorna Jagannathan In ‘Deli Boys” Blends Heritage And Mob Fashion

Hulu’s “Deli Boys” offers a fresh perspective on the crime family genre through the lens of two Pakistani American brothers suddenly thrust into a world they never knew existed. The series follows Mir and Raj, portrayed by Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh respectively, who discover that their deceased father’s seemingly legitimate convenience store is actually an elaborate front for a criminal enterprise. This revelation comes at a moment of grief, adding layers of complexity to their journey as they process both their loss and this shocking truth.

At the center of this criminal organization stands Lucky Auntie, played with commanding presence by Poorna Jagannathan. As the boys’ primary maternal figure and the de facto leader of the crime syndicate, Lucky represents a fascinating intersection of familial warmth and ruthless business acumen. Her character embodies the duality that runs throughout the series: tradition versus modernity, family versus business, and immigrant dreams versus criminal reality.

What truly sets “Deli Boys” apart is its meticulous attention to fashion and style as vehicles for character development. Lucky Auntie’s wardrobe deserves particular attention. Throughout the series, she is sporting fur coats, oversized sunglasses, and leopard print to cement her identity as a crime boss. “Poorna’s character, Lucky, is so bold and such a leader that I really wanted her wardrobe to reflect that,” explains Cailey Breneman, costume designer for the series. “She is, quite literally, the only woman in a room full of men and we loved the idea of her holding on to her femininity and sex appeal so we opted for vinyl pants, fur coats, bow blouses and huge gold earrings and bold colors.”

The Intention Behind The Mob Wife Fashion On ‘Deli Boys’

In an interview with Forbes, Jagannathan pulled back the curtain on the calculated fashion strategy that brings Lucky Auntie to life. “We looked at supermodels from the 90s, like Zeenat Aman, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista and leaned into the mob wife aesthetic, except she (Lucky) is the mob,” Jagannathan shared. “Everything from her nails to her eyeshadow matched to create a woman with big energy who lives and dresses large.”

This approach brilliantly subverts the “mob wife” aesthetic that swept through TikTok and infiltrated mainstream fashion last year. While the trend celebrated the ostentatious style of women adjacent to power, Lucky’s wardrobe embodies this power dynamic. The Italian-American-influenced maximalist style with its luxurious furs, dark palette, bold red accents, and rejection of minimalism finds new meaning through a South Asian crime boss who commands her own empire. After all, Jagannathan jokes that Lucky Auntie had too much responsibility on her shoulders not to have super-padded clothing.

Jagannathan, known for her breakout role in the Netflix hit ‘Never Have I Ever’ notes how she draws inspiration from her own maternal experiences raising a teenage son into her character Lucky Auntie. This real-life experience allows her to craft a character who embodies both nurturing warmth and fierce protection.

“She is the only woman amongst the men so she has to put her ‘armor’ on during the scenes,” she explains, highlighting the symbolism behind Lucky’s wardrobe choices. This metaphors works on multiple levels; not only does it describe her psychological defense on the show, but also how Lucky’s clothing becomes a strategic tool that commands respect in a male-dominated criminal organization.

‘Deli Boys’ Celebrates South Asian Fashion and Craftsmanship

Over the course of ten episodes, “Deli Boys” also embraces its South Asian cultural foundations, in particular in two episodes where characters are getting ready for a South Asian wedding. These festivities become a canvas for the show’s most spectacular fashion moments, with characters wearing explosions of color, intricate beadwork, and rich textiles that capture the spirit of South Asian wedding traditions.

“No matter what set I act on, I always look into incorporating South Asian designers,” Jagannathan added whose personal connections to Pakistani designers proved invaluable to the production. These relationships opened doors, allowing Jagannathan to introduce the costume team to Pakistani and Indian designers who became necessary collaborators to dressing both the male and female cast members.

Breneman started with extensive research into Pakistani and South Asian cultures, customs, traditional clothing, and brands for the wedding episodes and communicated with the team to source bespoke pieces.This commitment to authenticity led the team to partner with renowned South Asian brands including RASTAH, HSY, and KYNAH, creating a wardrobe that honors cultural traditions while reflecting each character’s unique journey between worlds.

Jagannathan’s wedding attire becomes a particular highlight, featuring designs from California-based brand KYNAH. “Given Poorna’s character and her role in the show, we wanted her outfit to incorporate traditional elements while maintaining the edgy, ferocious aspects of her “We chose the chrome gold embroidered jacket and sharara set by Ritika Mirchandani because it was a nod to Pakistani aesthetics while the chrome gold color is found often in Pakistani designs.” Other outfits sourced from KYNAH include an ice blue Jacquard jumpsuit by Paulmi & Harsh and a pink and orange one-shoulder top with gharara set by Gopi Vaid that Lucky Auntie is seen wearing throughout the wedding events in the last two episodes.

Each piece serves as visual storytelling, reinforcing Lucky’s position as a woman who commands respect in every setting—whether conducting business or participating in cultural celebrations. Through its thoughtful approach to costume design, “Deli Boys” uses styling as powerful character development tools while showcasing South Asian fashion and craftsmanship to a mainstream audience. All 10 episodes of “Deli Boys” are now available to stream on Hulu.