Rajkummar Rao on Playing Ujjwal Nikam in Prahaar: ‘I Had to Ensure People Wouldn’t See Raj’

Rajkummar Rao is stepping into one of the most challenging roles of his career with Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, and the actor has opened up about the immense responsibility that came with portraying the real-life prosecutor on screen. The trailer of the Dinesh Vijan-backed film was unveiled at Mumbai’s iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST), with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Ujjwal Nikam himself in attendance. Directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware, the film explores Nikam’s personal and professional journey, including the challenges surrounding some of the country’s most closely followed criminal cases.

Speaking about playing a real person, Rajkummar Rao explained just how seriously he approached the role. “The responsibility was immense, especially considering that Ujjwal Sir—along with his family and many acquaintances—would be watching the film. The challenge lay in how we portrayed his life on screen and presented those truths as a narrative. It was crucial to remain faithful to the reality of his life, his mannerisms, and his way of speaking. I had to ensure that when people watched the screen, they wouldn't see 'Raj,' but rather Ujjwal Nikam himself. That required a lot of hard work. Of course, there is always effort involved in such daunting tasks—wondering how I could pull it off given how different he is from me in appearance and speech—but there is also a thrill in that fear, and I embraced it.”

For Rajkummar, the transformation was not simply about changing his appearance or manner of speaking. The actor also had to understand the person behind the public image and make sure his portrayal felt authentic to those who actually know Nikam. He credited director Avinash Arun Dhaware and writer Sumit for their efforts in shaping the story. “Then there was Avinash, an excellent director, and Sumit, an amazing writer; both of them worked incredibly hard on the script. And, of course, there was Dinu. I think I’ve done more films with Maddock than with anyone else in my career, and it’s always just as enjoyable. I feel safest working with Dinu and the Maddock team; I felt completely secure being surrounded by people who truly love cinema and are passionate about storytelling.”

The actor further revealed that the moment he received a positive reaction from Ujjwal Nikam himself brought a sense of completion to his journey. Rajkummar recalled, “That was my journey. And later, when he saw the teaser, he called me, and we had a chat—he was very happy. That’s when I felt my job was done.” For an actor taking on a living real-life personality, that reaction clearly carried special significance, particularly given the responsibility Rajkummar had spoken about throughout the making of the film.

Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam also features Wamiqa Gabbi in a key role and is produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner. The film focuses on different aspects of Nikam’s professional and personal life, with the legal battles and pressures surrounding high-profile criminal cases forming a major part of the narrative. The recently released trailer has already set the tone for an intense drama, with Rajkummar at the centre of the story.

Now, the wait is on for the film’s theatrical release. Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on October 16, 2026. With Rajkummar Rao attempting to disappear completely into the character, an acclaimed filmmaker at the helm and a real-life story at its heart, the film is set to bring a powerful courtroom and human drama to audiences this October.

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