Zara Si Zindagi

An M.A. in philosophy who comes to Delhi from Bihar in search of work. He values dignity and integrity, and his pride can be a double-edged sword as he often turns down opportunities that don’t meet his standards. He becomes a moral compass for Kusum and a shield against the harsher sides of their hardship.

A small-time stage actress who uses theatre as a means to earn a living and pursue her dreams. She loves Rakesh and tries to navigate a complicated relationship with Pratap, balancing ambition with affection. Her resilience drives much of the emotional core of the story.

An arrogant stage director who is obsessed with Kusum and seeks to secure her through wealth and influence. He cannot tolerate intimacy between Rakesh and Kusum and uses pressure and dominance to advance his agenda. His temperament and control challenges color the couple's fate.

Rakesh and Kusum's friend who tries to improve their lot through dubious means. He is involved in risky schemes that briefly promise relief from hardship, including the disturbing act of using a kidnapped baby to demand ransom, revealing a desperate arc.

A friend from Punjab who seeks a better life but ends up in a precarious state, later depicted as a beggar with mental illness. His arc highlights the fragility of few opportunities in a harsh urban environment.

Kusum's father who abandons the family and is absent for days, affecting Kusum and her mother's stability. His disappearance acts as a catalyst for the family’s hardship.

Rakesh's father, portrayed as a guiding presence whose support anchors the family during trials. His relationship with Rakesh reflects the generational tension between expectation and reality.

Rakesh's mother, a caring and protective presence who shares in the family's hardships and hopes for her son's future.

A mute/dumb artist the couple meets in a park; a peripheral figure who reflects the quirky, chance encounters that punctuate life in the city.