Rajkummar Rao to Portray Ujjwal Nikam in 'Prahaar', Set for Oct 16 Release

When Avinash Arun casually mentioned Rajkummar Rao as the next face of Ujjwal Nikam, the seasoned lawyer’s eyebrows shot up—he’d never seen a National Award‑winner’s work. Yet the director’s praise of Rao’s authenticity flipped the conversation on its head. "He’s a real actor. I like his nature," Nikam told NDTV, adding that the director had picked a good fit.

Prahaar dives into the high‑stakes 26/11 case, spotlighting Nikam’s battle against Ajmal Kasab. Produced by Maddock Films, the film also features Wamiqa Gabbi as Jyoti, Nikam’s wife, and Lalit Prabhakar as Kasab. With a release slated for Friday, October 16, the crew is banking on the story’s raw tension and the cast’s nuanced performances.

Rao’s résumé reads like a catalogue of real‑life portraits: Shahid, Aligarh, Omerta, Srikanth and the web series Bose: Dead/Alive. He never shies away from the rawness required to make a character feel lived‑in, and critics say his portrayal of Nikam will be no exception. His next project, a biopic on cricketer Sourav Ganguly, shows that he keeps his hands full.

For audiences craving authenticity, Prahaar offers a window into the legal drama that captured a nation’s pulse. The film’s promise of a meticulous recreation of courtroom moments—paired with Rao’s grounded energy—could become the talk of the town this October.

So, when the lights dim on October 16, viewers will be treating Rajkummar Rao’s latest work as a must‑watch, a film that marries rigorous storytelling with a performance that feels as real as the case itself.