Kavita is an impoverished woman living in rural India who faces the harsh economic realities of bearing female children. Desperate to save her second daughter, Usha, she walks for days to leave her at an orphanage in Bombay. She leaves a silver bangle with the baby, holding onto the hope that they will reunite. She later moves to the slums of Bombay, working as a household servant to support her family.

Somer is a wealthy American pediatrician living in San Francisco. Diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, she reluctantly agrees to adopt a child from India with her husband. She battles feelings of inadequacy as a mother and feels culturally isolated from her husband and daughter, leading to tension within her marriage.

Originally named Usha, Asha is the adopted daughter of Somer and Kris. Growing up in California, she notices physical and cultural differences between herself and her peers, fueling a desire to understand her Indian roots. As a college student, she secures a journalism fellowship in Mumbai, using the opportunity to report on local slums and seek out her biological parents.

Jasu is Kavita's husband, a man driven by the intense pressures of rural poverty. Viewing the birth of female children as an economic impossibility, he enforces harsh decisions regarding his daughters' survival. He eventually uproots his family to Bombay in a desperate bid for financial stability, taking grueling factory jobs to make ends meet.

Krishnan is an accomplished Indian neurosurgeon who met Somer during their residency at Stanford. Raised in a large, wealthy family in Bombay, he values his Indian heritage and extended familial bonds. He encourages the adoption of an Indian child and supports Asha's curiosity about her cultural roots, which sometimes isolates his wife.

Vijay is Kavita and Jasu's son, whose birth brings relief to the struggling family. Growing up in the harsh environment of Mumbai's slums, he performs poorly in school and quickly seeks alternative paths to earn money. He starts a messenger service that serves as a front for a local drug trade operation.

Sarla, often referred to as Dadima by her family, is Krishnan's mother. She presides over a wealthy, traditional household in Bombay and longs for a female presence in her male-dominated home. She serves as a vital link to Indian culture and family history for her granddaughter.

Rupa is Kavita's supportive sister who helps her navigate the traumatic experience of giving up Usha for adoption. She remains a stabilizing presence for Kavita, staying in the village and looking after their aging parents.

Meena is a seasoned, electrifying field reporter for The Times of India. She acts as a mentor to Asha, guiding her through the sharp divides of Mumbai's wealth and poverty, and encouraging her to see the resilience of the women living in the city's slums.

Sanjay is a confident young man who quickly charms Asha during her fellowship year. He provides emotional support as she works through her complex feelings regarding her biological parents and her cultural identity.

Liza is Somer's divorced coworker who introduces her to a circle of single, child-free women. She offers Somer a different perspective on womanhood and independence during a difficult separation period in Somer's marriage.