Remy is an Indian Parsi man living in Columbus, Ohio, who returns to Bombay to privately adopt a baby. He works in advertising, having pivoted from his original pursuit of poetry after meeting his future wife. Currently, he experiences complicated feelings toward his estranged, hospitalized mother while heavily relying on his American wife for support. He is observant, sensitive to power dynamics, and sharply aware of his own cultural displacement.

Shirin is Remy's mother, a Parsi woman living in Bombay who is currently hospitalized with severe pneumonia and dehydration. She refuses to speak, creating immediate concern for those around her. Her past volatility and sharp tongue created a difficult environment in the Wadia household, though her current physical vulnerability draws out unexpected care from her son.

Cyrus is Remy's deceased father, a wealthy and ambitious Parsi man who provided his family with considerable material comforts. He maintained an exceptionally close and protective bond with Remy during his life. His past choices, professional drive, and social concerns continue to influence his family years after his passing.

Cyloo is a figure connected to the Wadia family. His photograph portrays a young boy, and his identity remains a closely guarded piece of the family's history. Information regarding his life and circumstances is initially completely hidden from Remy.

Kathy is Remy's American wife, an aspiring medical professional whom he met at a party in Ohio. She actively supports their plans to adopt a child from India and prepares their home for the possibility of a baby. She grounds Remy and encourages him to process his childhood memories in a healthy manner.

Jango is Remy's close friend in Bombay who hosts Remy upon his return to India. He holds traditional opinions about community rules and expresses strong frustration over his niece Monaz's unplanned pregnancy with a non-Parsi man. He provides practical advice and local companionship to Remy.

Shenaz is Jango's wife and Monaz's aunt. She warmly welcomes Remy into her home, providing comfort through familiar meals like his favorite chocolate cake. She worries deeply about her niece's predicament and the potential reaction of her conservative brother.

Monaz is Shenaz's 19-year-old niece, a college student facing an unplanned pregnancy. She hopes to conceal her condition from her conservative parents due to intense social stigma. Her fluctuating decisions regarding the baby cause considerable stress for those trying to help her.

Pervez is Remy's cousin, the son of Cyrus's brother Faroukh. He lives rent-free in Remy's Bombay apartment under the agreement that he will monitor Shirin's well-being, an arrangement he approaches with significant negligence. He works a low-paying bank job and grew up with fewer privileges than Remy.

Roshan is Pervez's wife. She lives in the Wadia family's building and assists her husband in his minimal caretaking duties for Shirin. Like Pervez, she rationalizes their lack of daily check-ins by citing Shirin's difficult personality.

Dina is the Wadia family lawyer and executor of Cyrus's will. She dated Cyrus in college before leaving for London and maintains a refined, art-filled home in Bombay. She possesses deep knowledge of the Wadia family's historical legal and personal affairs.

Gaurav is a college student and the father of Monaz's child. He comes from a wealthy, conservative Sindhi family and shows extreme reluctance to marry Monaz or take responsibility for the pregnancy. He actively looks for ways to exit the situation without facing family backlash.

Dr. Billimoria is the physician treating Shirin at Parsee General Hospital. He monitors her pneumonia and dehydration while offering blunt assessments to Remy about her psychological state, suggesting her mute condition stems from a lack of will to live.

Hema is the cleaning woman who works at Shirin's apartment. She is the first person to inform Remy about his mother's sudden hospitalization and her preceding months of silence, providing vital updates that his own family failed to share.

Manju is the night nurse assigned to Shirin's hospital room. She talks openly with Remy about her personal struggles, including her brother who migrated illegally to New York, assuming Remy's American life is devoid of class struggles.

Gulnaz is an old friend of Remy's who remained in India. She is married to a Muslim man, a choice that causes friction within traditional Parsi circles. She insists on taking Remy to the fire temple, sparking his reconnection with his religious roots.

Hussein is Gulnaz's Muslim husband. His marriage to a Parsi woman places them outside the strict, traditional boundaries of the conservative Parsi community.

Framrose is Shirin's father. He works as a surgeon in Bombay and voices strong opinions about his family's medical and personal matters, carrying significant influence over early household decisions.

Rita is a nanny who provided essential care for the Wadia household in the past, stepping in to offer vital support when the family faced domestic challenges.

Sister Hillary is a nun associated with St. Mary's Home for Disabled Boys in Bandra. She works to facilitate care and arrange safe environments for children in need of assistance.

Anand is a four-year-old boy living at the home affiliated with Sister Hillary. An Australian couple recently backed out of plans to adopt him, leaving him in need of a permanent family. He is a talented kite flier who speaks very little English.

Phiroz is Shenaz's brother and Monaz's father. He maintains strict conservative values that severely terrify his daughter regarding her unplanned pregnancy.

Faroukh is Cyrus's brother and Pervez's father. He raised his son in a much less affluent environment than the one Cyrus provided for Remy.

Ralph is a friend of Remy's from his time in Ohio. He is primarily known for making terrible party punch, an act that inadvertently sparked Remy's first conversation with his future wife.