Ujjwal Nikam demanded real names, no glorification — and got it. Prahaar releases October 16.
Ujjwal Nikam didn’t just approve the script — he demanded it. Not a single name in Prahaar would be fictionalised, no character glorified, not even his own. The real-life prosecutor behind the 26/11 case, who sentenced Ajmal Kasab to death, laid down the rules before Rajkummar Rao stepped into his shoes.
And according to Nikam, the makers followed them. No exceptions. No creative liberties. Just names, dates, and the raw weight of courtroom truth.
That’s what he wanted. That’s what he got. Or so he says. The film, titled Prahaar – The Untold Story Of Ujjwal Nikam, is set to hit theatres on October 16, with Nikam himself calling Rajkummar Rao’s portrayal ‘shocking’, not because it was inaccurate, but because it was too close.
'He lived like Ujjwal Nigam,' Nikam said. 'Forceful. Loud. I’d never seen that in him.' Rao, known for his quiet intensity, reportedly immersed himself in videos of Nikam’s actual courtroom performances, mimicking his cadence, his posture, even the way he leaned forward when making a point.
The result? A performance so precise, even other lawyers doubted if Rao had been coached by Nikam himself. Nikam did not meet Rao before filming began. Too busy with court duties, he claims.
But he watched the trailer. And he approved. He also confirmed that every person involved in the trial, including judge Madan Laxmandas Tahaliyani, gave their consent. No redacted identities.
No anonymous roles. Real names. Real stakes. The film, directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, and Ashish Vidyarthi in key roles.
It’s not a thriller about action. It’s a legal drama about accountability. And for Nikam, that’s the only story worth telling. Now, the question isn’t whether the film will be accurate.
It’s whether audiences will sit through two hours of unrelenting precision. The release date is locked. The verdict’s already out. But the trial?
That’s still playing.
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