‘Who is this Rajkummar Rao?’ Ujjwal Nikam didn’t know who the actor was before Prahaar

Ujjwal Nikam initially did not know who Rajkummar Rao was when the actor was cast to portray him in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam.

Rajkummar Rao’s next film is the highly anticipated Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, based on the life of Ujjwal Nikam, who represented the prosecution in the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. During a recent interaction, Nikam revealed that he did not know who Rajkummar Rao was when the film's director Avinash Arun first suggested the actor’s name to play him on the big screen.

Ujjwal Nikam didn’t know who Rajkummar Rao was

Rajkummar Rao plays former public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam in Prahaar. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

Speaking to NDTV, Ujjwal Nikam shared that when Avinash Arun informed him that Rajkummar Rao would play his role in Prahaar, he immediately asked him one question: “Avinash ji, who is this Rajkummar?”

Avinash then told Nikam about Rajkummar Rao’s career and his performances. After hearing the director praise Rajkummar, Nikam visited the film’s set one day to watch the shoot. He was impressed after seeing the actor perform and meeting him in person.

“He is down-to-earth and simple. He doesn't have that star tantrum. He's a real actor,” Nikam said while praising Rajkummar during the interview. He also complimented the director for choosing the right actor to portray him on screen.

In another interaction with India Today, Nikam shared the conditions he had put before the makers before allowing them to make a film about a significant phase of his career and life. He said he wanted the story to remain grounded in reality, without glorifying any of the people involved in the legal proceedings.

He said, “My first condition was that there should be no glorification of any character, including myself. I also told them to use real names of all the characters who had participated in this legal proceeding and the makers took no objection certificate from the concerned people, including the judge, Mr Madan Laxmandas Tahaliyani.”

About Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam

Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam is an upcoming courtroom drama produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. Rajkummar Rao plays Ujjwal Nikam.The film also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and Marathi actor Lalit Prabhakar, who plays Ajmal Kasab. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on October 16, 2026.