The film collected ₹19.50 crore nett across three weeks, ending its theatrical run as Ramayana arrives.
Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam has concluded its theatrical run with a nett collection of ₹19.50 crore at the Indian box office, according to Pinkvilla’s final trade estimates. The film, starring Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, opened on October 16 with ₹2.5 crore nett across 4,133 screens, slightly ahead of early projections that had forecast ₹2.35 crore.
Day two brought ₹3.25 crore nett — a modest rise from Friday’s figures, but still short of what was needed to spark a strong weekend surge. Bollywood Hungama reported the second-day total, which pushed the two-day cumulative tally to ₹5.25 crore. The Free Press Journal had predicted a range of ₹3–3.5 crore for day two, suggesting a slight uptick but not a breakout performance.
Even with better footfalls in night shows, momentum remained under pressure. The film’s first weekend is now expected to end around ₹9 crore, a figure trade sources describe as a commercial underperformance given production costs. International collections were negligible, and advance bookings trailed behind competing releases like Nayyi Navelli, which led by 11,000 tickets sold versus Prahaar’s 8,500.
The film’s trajectory was further challenged by competition from Drishyam 3 and Jailer 2, with no festival lift to aid visibility. Despite receiving mostly positive reviews, audience interest stayed muted. The Free Press Journal gave Prahaar 3.5 stars, calling it a gripping courtroom drama that succeeds in presenting a familiar chapter of Indian history from a different perspective.
The reviewer noted Rajkummar Rao’s occasional struggle with the Marathi accent and Wamiqa Gabbi’s limited role as minor flaws, but praised the writing, performances, and direction. In contrast, the same outlet rated Nayyi Navelli 2 stars, criticizing its weak screenplay and narration despite moments that could have worked as mass entertainment.
Word-of-mouth has been positive in urban centres, particularly among audiences who appreciated the pacing and Rao’s performance, but this hasn’t driven significant volume. The film earned ₹4.50 crore in its second week, registering a 65% drop from the opening week. Its third-week projection stands at ₹2 crore nett, bringing the total cume to ₹19.50 crore.
With Ramayana set to release this Friday, Prahaar has already exited theatres. The quiet contender faded fast. Its critical acclaim didn’t translate into widespread turnout. The film’s journey points to a growing challenge: how much room remains for serious Indian dramas in a marketplace dominated by star power, spectacle, and franchise momentum.
The next chapter will be whether streaming platforms give it a second life, or if it disappears into the archive.
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