Bollywood News: Rajkummar Rao is stepping into the shoes of one of India's best-known public prosecutors in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. The courtroom drama explores the legal career of Ujjwal Nikam, particularly his role in the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist captured alive following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Scheduled for theatrical release on October 16, 2026, the film brings a significant chapter of India's recent history to the big screen. Directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Maddock Films, the project focuses on the courtroom proceedings, legal arguments and challenges involved in prosecuting one of the country's most consequential terror cases.
1. Ajmal Kasab Trial: The Central Story of Prahaar
The prosecution of Ajmal Kasab forms the central narrative of Prahaar. Kasab was the only attacker captured alive following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed numerous innocent lives and shocked the country.
As the public prosecutor representing the Maharashtra government, Ujjwal Nikam played a key role in presenting the case against Kasab. The trial involved eyewitness accounts, forensic material, investigative evidence and legal arguments concerning the attacks.
One of the important episodes highlighted in the film's promotional material is Kasab's claim that he was 17 years old. If he had been legally established as a juvenile, the applicable legal consequences would have been significantly different.
The prosecution challenged the claim using medical age assessments and other evidence. The case ultimately resulted in Kasab's conviction and death sentence, which was upheld by the Supreme Court. He was executed in November 2012.
The film aims to bring the courtroom battle into focus, showing how the prosecution worked to establish the facts through evidence and legal procedure.
2. Sanjay Dutt’s Legal Battle in the 1993 Bombay Blasts Case
Ujjwal Nikam's career also includes his role as public prosecutor in the 1993 Bombay blasts case, which involved actor Sanjay Dutt.
Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act for possessing prohibited weapons connected to the case and was sentenced to five years in prison by the Supreme Court in 2013. He had already served part of his sentence and was released from prison in February 2016 after completing the remaining term.
The case attracted enormous public attention because Dutt was one of Hindi cinema's most prominent stars. It also demonstrated how criminal proceedings can involve public figures while remaining subject to the same judicial process as other cases.
Although Prahaar primarily focuses on Nikam's work in the Kasab trial, the Sanjay Dutt case remains an important part of the prosecutor's professional history.
3. Gulshan Kumar Murder Case
Nikam was also associated with the prosecution in the 1997 murder case of music mogul Gulshan Kumar, the founder of T-Series.
Gulshan Kumar was shot dead in Mumbai in August 1997. The investigation and subsequent court proceedings became one of the most widely followed criminal cases involving the Indian music industry.
The case attracted attention because of the victim's prominence and the complex circumstances surrounding the killing. It also brought the intersection of crime, entertainment and the legal system into public discussion.
Nikam's involvement in high-profile criminal proceedings such as this contributed to his reputation as a prosecutor handling cases with considerable public scrutiny.
4. Pramod Mahajan Murder Case
Another prominent case associated with Nikam was the 2006 murder of politician Pramod Mahajan. Mahajan, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, was shot by his brother Pravin Mahajan and later died from his injuries.
The case received extensive national coverage because of Mahajan's political standing and the circumstances of the killing. It became another example of the high-profile criminal matters in which Nikam was involved during his career.
These cases demonstrate the range of proceedings associated with the prosecutor, extending beyond terrorism trials to cases involving politics, entertainment and other areas of public life.
5. Rajkummar Rao’s Transformation Into Ujjwal Nikam
Rajkummar Rao plays Ujjwal Nikam in Prahaar, taking on the responsibility of portraying a real person whose professional work is closely connected with major events in India's recent history.
The film's ensemble cast includes Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and Ashish Vidyarthi. Avinash Arun, known for his work as a director and cinematographer, has directed the courtroom drama.
The filmmakers have indicated that research into the legal proceedings was an important part of the production. The intention is to bring audiences closer to the courtroom arguments and the challenges involved in building the prosecution's case.
Portraying a real prosecutor also presents a different challenge from playing a fictional character. The performance must convey the individual’s professional responsibilities while remaining grounded in the documented events that shaped the case.
When and Where to Watch Prahaar
Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam is scheduled to release in cinemas on October 16, 2026. The film has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes and has received a U/A 16+ certificate.
Rather than presenting only the events of the 26/11 attacks, the film focuses on the legal proceedings that followed and the role of the prosecution in bringing the captured attacker to justice.
With Rajkummar Rao leading the cast, Prahaar brings a courtroom perspective to a major chapter of India's modern history. Its theatrical release will give audiences an opportunity to revisit the evidence, arguments and legal challenges behind one of the country's most significant terrorism trials.
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