Q&A: Kumail Nanjiani and Ray Romano on 'The Big Sick'

The Big Sick, the autobiographical rom-com from Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani, is about an unlikely relationship. And not just the true-story romance that develops between Nanjiani and his future wife, Emily (played by Zoe Kazan), who suffers a life-threatening medical crisis early in their relationship. The funnier and ultimately endearing bond blossoms between Nanjiani and his comatose girlfriend’s blunt-speaking dad, Terry, played by Ray Romano, the co-creator and star of, among other things, Everybody Loves Raymond. (Holly Hunter plays Emily’s mother.)

The two actors have a bit in common in real life, from their sitcom pedigrees to their deep experience in stand-up comedy. Their clear affection for each other is a little less awkward off camera. In late