The kids in the film are all non-actors, and are the children of refugees from the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989). All of the children come from impoverished backgrounds and live in the slums of Lahore, Pakistan. Many of their parents work in the garbage dump featured at the end of the film.
Writer/director Ali Javed and producer/editor Faisal Azam collaborated remotely on this film--Ali in Lahore, Pakistan and Faisal in Brooklyn, New York. They have yet to meet in person.