Rajkummar Rao opened up about one of the most frightening periods of his early life in Mumbai while attending the trailer launch of Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. The actor recalled his personal experience of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and revealed that he had moved to the city only a few months before the tragedy unfolded.
Speaking at the trailer launch at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Rajkummar remembered spending three terrifying days watching the news with his roommates. His recollection added a personal dimension to a film that revisits the legal battle following the attacks.
Rajkummar Rao Recalls Three Scary Days
Rajkummar said those three days were extremely frightening. Having recently moved to Mumbai after completing film school, he was still adjusting to life in the city when the attacks began.
The actor recalled being glued to the television with his friends as reports of the attacks continued to emerge from different parts of Mumbai. At the time, the uncertainty surrounding the situation made the experience particularly frightening for those living in the city.
Rajkummar also remembered praying for the Mumbai Police and hoping that the security forces would be able to bring the situation under control.
Relief After Ajmal Kasab Was Captured
One of the moments Rajkummar specifically remembered was the capture of Ajmal Kasab, the lone attacker from the 26/11 operation who was captured alive.
For Rajkummar and many others following the events, Kasab's capture represented a major moment of relief after days of uncertainty. His later trial became one of the most closely followed criminal proceedings connected to the attacks.
Kasab was eventually convicted and sentenced to death. The Bombay High Court and Supreme Court subsequently upheld the sentence before his execution in November 2012.
Prahaar Trailer Launch At CSMT
The setting of the Prahaar trailer launch carried particular significance. The event took place at CSMT, one of the locations targeted during the 26/11 attacks.
The trailer revisits the aftermath of the attacks through the courtroom proceedings involving Ujjwal Nikam, the public prosecutor who led the prosecution in the Kasab trial. The makers chose the historic railway station as the launch venue, directly connecting the film with one of the central locations associated with the tragedy.
The trailer moves between recreations of the attacks and courtroom sequences, introducing Rajkummar as Nikam and showing the legal battle that followed.
Rajkummar Rao Plays Ujjwal Nikam
In Prahaar, Rajkummar Rao portrays veteran public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The actor has said that his aim was not simply to imitate Nikam but to make audiences feel that they were watching the real prosecutor rather than Rajkummar Rao.
Nikam himself was present at the trailer launch and spoke about Rajkummar's preparation. He said the actor had studied videos of his courtroom appearances, while director Avinash Arun had also watched some of his court proceedings to understand his mannerisms and approach.
Rajkummar's preparation is visible in the trailer through his courtroom body language, dialogue delivery and appearance.
The Trailer Focuses On The Kasab Trial
The Prahaar trailer gives considerable attention to the courtroom proceedings following the 26/11 attacks. Rajkummar's Ujjwal Nikam is shown questioning witnesses and building the prosecution's case.
Lalit Prabhakar plays Ajmal Kasab, while Sikandar Kher appears as a lawyer on the opposing side. Wamiqa Gabbi plays Jyoti Nikam, giving the film a personal dimension alongside its courtroom narrative. Jaideep Ahlawat also appears in the film.
One of the trailer's notable moments shows Kasab making a claim about his identity and circumstances, setting up the courtroom confrontation between the accused and the prosecution.
A Film About Law, Justice And Memory
While the 26/11 attacks form the backdrop, Prahaar focuses particularly on what happened after the attacks and the legal proceedings that followed.
The film explores Nikam's role in presenting evidence and building the case against Kasab. The real trial involved extensive testimony and evidence, with the prosecution working to establish the circumstances surrounding the attacks and Kasab's role.
The story therefore moves beyond the immediate tragedy to examine the legal process that followed it.
Rajkummar Rao’s Personal Connection Adds Another Layer
Rajkummar's memories make his involvement with Prahaar particularly interesting. He was already living in Mumbai when the 26/11 attacks happened, and his recollection of watching the events unfold provides a personal connection to the period portrayed in the film.
Years later, he is playing a key figure from the legal aftermath of those attacks. At the trailer launch, he also spoke about the responsibility of portraying a real person associated with such a significant case.
The actor has previously described the importance of remembering events such as 26/11, while the film seeks to bring the legal chapter of that history to a wider audience.
When Will Prahaar Release?
Directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam stars Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and Lalit Prabhakar among others.
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 16, 2026.
With its focus on Ujjwal Nikam, the Kasab trial and Rajkummar Rao's personal memories of 26/11, Prahaar brings together a historical tragedy, a courtroom story and the journey of a prosecutor who became closely associated with one of India's most significant terror cases.
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