Animal is a nineteen-year-old orphan in the Indian city of Khaufpur whose back was severely twisted by a chemical disaster when he was an infant. Forced to walk on all fours, he rejects his human identity and calls himself an animal to protect his emotions from hope and rejection. He moves through the city with sharp observational skills, listening to conversations and gathering information for local activists.

Nisha is the nineteen-year-old daughter of a renowned singer and an active participant in the fight for justice in Khaufpur. She treats Animal as a normal person without pitying his physical condition, earning his deep loyalty and affection. She balances a pragmatic approach to securing justice with her commitment to her idealistic boyfriend.

Zafar is a Muslim activist in his thirties who dedicates his entire life to helping the poor victims of the Khaufpur industrial disaster. The city reveres him as a saintly figure for his selflessness, strict moral code, and refusal to accept corporate bribes. His extreme idealism sometimes clashes with the grim physical realities of the city.

Somraj is Nisha's father and a formerly famous singer whose lungs were permanently damaged by the poisonous gas released during the disaster. He lost his wife and infant son to the tragedy, leaving him with profound grief that he channels into music. He finds musical harmony in everyday sounds like croaking frogs and creaking bicycle wheels.

Elli is an American doctor who leaves her life behind to treat the victims of Khaufpur's chemical disaster. Her arrival sparks intense suspicion among the locals, who fear she secretly works for the American company responsible for the tragedy. She struggles to understand the culture of the people she wants to help.

Ma Franci is an elderly French nun who raised Animal at her orphanage. The trauma of the chemical leak caused her to lose the ability to speak or understand any language besides French, leaving her isolated and convinced that everyone around her is speaking gibberish. She firmly believes the industrial disaster was the beginning of the biblical Apocalypse.

Farouq is a tough young Muslim man and Zafar's reliable assistant. His uncle is a known local gangster, giving Farouq a rough exterior that contrasts with his dedication to Zafar's activist cause. He frequently trades insults with Animal and challenges his decision to live as a four-legged creature.

Huriya is an older woman in Khaufpur who cares for her granddaughter and maintains a close friendship with Ma Franci. Though the two women cannot understand each other's languages, they find comfort in drinking tea and sitting together.

Aliya is Huriya's young granddaughter who lives in the poor neighborhoods of Khaufpur. She treats Animal playfully, occasionally riding on his back like a donkey, which brings out a softer side in him.

Chunaram is a local opportunist and chai shop owner who facilitates transactions between foreigners and Khaufpur residents. He brokers the deal for Animal to tell his story on tape in exchange for payment.

Jarnalis is an Australian journalist seeking to document the tragedy of Khaufpur through the eyes of its victims. His well-meaning but emotionally detached approach earns Animal's immediate distrust and mockery.

Khã-in-the-Jar is a two-headed fetus preserved in a glass jar since the night of the chemical disaster. Animal experiences intense, hallucinatory conversations with the specimen, who claims to hold the secrets of nature and begs to be released from its glass prison.

Faqri is a local scam artist and old acquaintance of Animal. He supplies Animal with the potent herbal pills that are secretly slipped into Zafar's drinks.

Zahreel Khan is the Minister of Poison Relief in Khaufpur. He represents the corrupt government officials who ignore the ongoing suffering of the people while maintaining superficial appearances for the press and foreign entities.

Anjali is a young prostitute working in the red-light district of Khaufpur. She treats Animal with unexpected kindness and respect, looking past his physical differences to engage with him as a person.

Jara is a local dog who serves as Animal's constant companion on the streets of Khaufpur. The dog provides Animal with unconditional loyalty and mirrors his chosen existence as a four-legged creature.