Gustad is a bank clerk in his fifties living in Bombay's Khodadad Building. A devout Parsi, he maintains a strict morning prayer routine and acts as a traditional father figure to his family and neighbors. He still carries a slight limp from a past accident where he saved his son from an oncoming taxi. He values tradition and old friendships, struggling to accept the modern choices of his children.

Dilnavaz is Gustad's wife of many years and the manager of the Noble household. She strictly limits her outings, preferring to buy groceries from merchants who visit their building courtyard. Overwhelmed by her children's behavioral and health issues, she secretly turns to folk magic and superstitions to fix her family's problems.

Sohrab is the nineteen-year-old eldest child of the Noble family. He possesses high intelligence and earns admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). His absolute refusal to attend the school creates a massive rift with his father, eventually leading him to pack his bags and leave home.

Jimmy is an old, trusted neighbor who abruptly moved away from the Khodadad Building without saying goodbye. He later contacts Gustad claiming to work for the Secret Service (RAW), asking him to illegally launder a massive sum of money for a covert government operation.

Dinshawji is Gustad's closest coworker at the bank. He constantly makes lewd jokes and tells stories to hide a severe physical illness that causes him obvious discomfort. He readily agrees to help Gustad slowly deposit the secret government money to avoid suspicion.

Darius is the fifteen-year-old middle child of the Noble family. He shares his father's physical strength and maintains a strict daily routine of push-ups and squats. He frequently tries to raise pets that inevitably die, and he harbors a crush on a neighbor's daughter.

Roshan is the nine-year-old youngest child of the Noble family. She wins a large, blue-eyed Italian doll dressed in wedding clothes in a school raffle. She suffers from a chronic stomach illness that deeply worries her parents and drains their finances.

Tehmul is a man in his mid-thirties who lives in the Khodadad Building with his brother. A childhood fall from a tree left him with significant physical and mental disabilities. He speaks rapidly, scratches himself constantly, and forms an intense, inappropriate attachment to Roshan's new doll.

Miss Kutpitia is an elderly, cranky resident of the Khodadad Building who owns the only working telephone in the complex. She keeps the back rooms of her apartment completely sealed off following a family tragedy. She advises Dilnavaz on complex spells, curses, and omens to manipulate events.

Ghulam is a man who works for the Secret Service alongside Major Jimmy Bilimoria. He coordinates the money drop-off with Gustad at an outdoor market. He maintains a base of operations on the top floor of a local brothel.

Malcolm is an old Catholic friend of Gustad's from years past. A musician from a family of pianists, he frequently helps Gustad secure quality cuts of beef from the markets. He works for the municipality to supplement his income from teaching music.

Dr. Paymaster is the local family physician. He operates a clinic near the House of Cages brothel and frequently uses complex political metaphors to describe medical conditions. He takes an active role in local neighborhood protests regarding sanitation.

Peerbhoy is a local vendor who sells betel leaf preparations outside the House of Cages. He is a gifted storyteller who entertains large neighborhood crowds with elaborate tales and serves as an informal message drop for Ghulam Mohammed.

Laurie is a new, attractive employee at the bank where Gustad and Dinshawji work. She becomes highly uncomfortable with Dinshawji's persistent and inappropriate teasing, eventually seeking Gustad's help to stop the behavior.

Mr. Rabadi is a contentious neighbor in the Khodadad Building. He constantly feuds with Gustad, initially over his dog using Gustad's plants as a toilet, and later over Gustad's son interacting with his daughter.

Jasmine is Mr. Rabadi's daughter. She collects newspapers for a school fundraiser and spends time with Darius, who helps her balance while learning to ride her bicycle.

Bamji, known to the residents as Sherlock Bamji, is a local police inspector who lives in the Khodadad Building. He occasionally uses his authority around the compound but often dismisses the residents' minor complaints.

Alamai is Dinshawji's wife. Though Dinshawji frequently mocks her at work, she manages their household and raises her nephew as her own son.

Nusli is Alamai's adult nephew, whom she and Dinshawji raised as their own child. He is highly nervous and behaves with the timidness of a small child.

Mr. Madon is the bank manager where Gustad and Dinshawji work. He issues memos and handles employee leave requests.

The Pavement Artist is a street artist who draws religious figures for coins. Gustad recruits him to paint the foul-smelling black wall at the Khodadad Building with deities to deter public urination.