Rakesh is a highly intelligent and ambitious son who rises from a humble background to become a wealthy, successful doctor. He balances modern medical education acquired in the United States with strict adherence to Indian cultural traditions, symbolized by his habit of touching his father's feet. He uses his medical knowledge to improve the lives of his community, eventually opening his own clinic and driving a sky-blue Ambassador car. However, his devotion dictates strict dietary restrictions for his aging father, leading to household tension.

Varmaji is an aging, uneducated man who formerly worked as a kerosene dealer and vegetable vendor. He initially takes immense pride in his son's accomplishments and uses them to gain status in his community. As he grows older and his health declines, he resents the strict medical regimens imposed upon him, specifically the banning of his favorite sweets. He struggles with his loss of independence and resorts to dramatic acts, such as playing dead on a string bed, to regain attention.

Mubarak is Rakesh's traditional, soft-spoken mother who dedicates her life to her family's domestic needs. She spends her days cooking indulgent foods for her husband and takes pride in arranging her son's marriage to a village girl, boasting to others that he did not bring home a foreign bride. She embodies the conventional cultural expectations of her generation, seeking comfort in familiar routines rather than modernization. Her eventual death leaves a significant void in her husband's life.

Veena is an uneducated, traditional young woman from a village who seamlessly integrates into her husband's family home. While she appears old-fashioned and placid on the surface, she firmly enforces her husband's modern medical directives regarding her father-in-law's diet. She balances her expected domestic duties with a quiet willingness to prioritize health directives, sometimes displaying a subtle smirk when discarding her father-in-law's forbidden items.

Old Bhatia is an elderly neighbor who steadfastly refuses to adapt to modern conveniences. He famously insists on bathing outdoors in the yard with a garden hose rather than using indoor plumbing. As one of the few remaining peers in Varmaji's social circle, he serves as a sounding board for complaints about the younger generation and the loss of traditional indulgences.

The neighbors serve as a collective representation of the local community's evolving perspective on success and tradition. Initially deeply envious of Varmaji and awestruck by Rakesh's accomplishments, they gradually become accustomed to the family's status. As time passes, they grow tired of Varmaji's attempts to gain attention and slowly withdraw their social engagement to avoid his disdain.