Maya is a 17-year-old Indian American teenager living in the Chicago suburbs of Batavia, Illinois. She works at the Idle Hour bookstore and carries a camcorder to document her life, aspiring to attend New York University to study film. Her artistic ambitions conflict with her parents' expectations that she attend the University of Chicago and pursue a traditional medical or legal career.

Sofia is an immigrant from Hyderabad, India, who works alongside her husband at their dental practice. She adheres strictly to traditional Indian values and worries about her daughter assimilating too much into American culture. She expresses her love primarily through preparing food, such as pancakes or omelets for breakfast, and guiding Maya toward what she views as a secure future.

Phil is the captain of the Batavia High School football team and a popular student. Despite his outward status as a typical athlete, he harbors secret ambitions to become an EMT and study adventure recreation in Vermont. He connects with Maya over their shared burden of hidden dreams and parental expectations.

Ethan is a young man whose perspective is presented in brief, isolated scenes separate from the main narrative. He carries emotional and physical scars from an abusive childhood with an alcoholic father, including a mark from a belt buckle. He makes deliberate, methodical preparations for a destructive plan, seeking to find a sense of worth through extreme action.

Asif is Maya's father and a dentist who built a successful practice after immigrating from India. He holds conservative expectations for his daughter's education and future marriage. He wants Maya to remain close to home for college and struggles to understand her artistic aspirations.

Hina is Sofia's sister who lives independently in Chicago and works as a graphic designer. She maintains a modern, non-traditional lifestyle that contrasts with her sister's conservative household. She serves as a safe space for Maya to discuss her dreams without judgment.

Violet is a high school student originally from New York City who currently lives with her father in Batavia. She thrives on social dynamics and relationship drama at school. As Maya's closest peer, she advocates for her friend to pursue what makes her happy, regardless of cultural pressures.

Brian is a football player at Batavia High School whose brother suffered a severe injury while serving in the military in Iraq. He reads books about military snipers and holds deep-seated prejudices. He treats Maya with hostility and suspicion based on her ethnic and religious background.

Kareem is a sophomore engineering student at Princeton University. As a young Muslim Indian man attending an Ivy League school, he represents the ideal suitor in the eyes of Maya's parents. He shows an immediate romantic interest in Maya and attempts to initiate a relationship with her.

Lisa is a student at Batavia High School and part of the popular social crowd. She is involved in a highly visible relationship with the football captain. Her social status and relationship drama are frequent topics of conversation among the student body.