Lakshmi is an ambitious 30-year-old henna artist and herbal healer who escaped an abusive marriage in her rural village more than a decade ago. She caters to Jaipur's elite while secretly providing contraceptive remedies to women in need. She desires financial independence to build a fine house and atone for the shame her departure brought upon her family.

Radha is Lakshmi’s 13-year-old sister. Orphaned and labeled the Bad Luck Girl by village gossips, she tracks down the older sister she never knew in Jaipur. She acts impulsively and stubbornly. Her worldview is heavily shaped by romanticized Western ideals from British literature and American cinema.

Hari is Lakshmi’s estranged husband. He initially tracks her down in Jaipur appearing slovenly and penniless while seeking to reconnect. He possesses practical herbalist skills passed down from his mother, which he begins using to assist marginalized women in the city's pleasure district.

Doctor Kumar is a Western-educated physician practicing medicine in the mountain region of Shimla. Unlike many modern doctors of the era, he shows deep respect for traditional Indian folk remedies. He actively tries to bridge the gap between Western science and indigenous botanical treatments for his rural patients.

Samir is a wealthy architect and a highly influential figure among Jaipur's social elite. He previously helped establish Lakshmi's business in the city. He lives a life of double standards, maintaining numerous affairs while upholding traditional patriarchal expectations for his family.

Parvati is Samir's wife and a powerful member of Jaipur society. As one of Lakshmi’s most prominent clients, she has the power to make or break the henna artist's career through her vast network of wealthy friends. She is deeply invested in preserving the social status quo and her family's reputation.

Ravi is the privileged eldest son of the Singh family. He acts in local stage productions and embodies the patriarchal entitlement of his social class. He frequently pursues romantic dalliances despite being formally engaged to a girl from another prominent family.

Malik is a young Muslim street boy whom Lakshmi hires to assist her with her henna and herbal medicine business. He acts as her loyal assistant, helping with daily chores, running errands, and providing practical observations about their clients.

Kanta is a wealthy client and friend of Lakshmi who faces immense pressure from her mother-in-law to conceive a child. She quickly bonds with young Radha over a shared love of Western literature, introducing the girl to foreign movies and modern fashions.

Latika is the young maharani of Jaipur. She experiences deep depression after her eight-year-old son is banished to a boarding school, prompting the royal family to seek Lakshmi's holistic treatments to revive her spirits.

Indira is the dowager maharani of Jaipur. As a powerful matriarch, she commands immense respect and influence. She employs Lakshmi to treat her depressed daughter-in-law and uses her vast social network to reward the henna artist.

Mrs. Harris is an Englishwoman living in Jaipur who maintains a close relationship with Samir. Finding herself in a difficult domestic situation with an unwanted pregnancy, she turns to Lakshmi's herbal expertise.

Sheela is the beautiful daughter of a prominent building contractor in Jaipur. She is the focal point of a highly competitive matchmaking effort, though she complicates matters by stubbornly refusing to live with her prospective in-laws.

Manu is Kanta's husband. He supports his wife through her struggles with societal pressure to bear children and shares her heartbreak when they face ongoing fertility challenges.