Ujjwal Nikam: Rajkummar Rao could argue in court for me

Mumbai: Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has handed Rajkummar Rao the kind of endorsement every biopic wants but few get: the real-life subject says the actor could step into his shoes in an actual courtroom.

At India Today Conclave Mumbai 2026 on October 10, Nikam opened up about Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, the upcoming film built around his life and legal career. He also revealed the two ground rules he set before the cameras rolled.

No glorification, real names

Nikam said his first condition was that no character would be glorified, including himself, and that all real names would be used. That is a notable promise in a genre where real-life stories often smooth the rough edges of their subjects.

Nikam is best known as the special public prosecutor who led the state’s case against Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. His courtroom arguments helped secure Kasab’s conviction and capital punishment, making him a significant figure in India’s national security history.

It also helps that the source material is unusually dramatic: the 26/11 trial was watched closely across the country, and Nikam’s methodical prosecution became part of public memory. A film that keeps real names and avoids glorification has to work harder to build tension, and that is exactly what makes the casting interesting.

The performance that convinced the man himself

Asked about Rao playing him, Nikam praised the actor’s immersion. Legal colleagues who watched the film repeatedly asked whether Rao had lived with him to understand his courtroom mannerisms. Nikam’s answer was simple: not for a single day.

He noted that Rao is usually reserved and soft-spoken off screen, yet the actor captured the prosecutor’s presence so closely that Nikam said, “I certify him completely,” adding that Rao could go to court on his behalf.

That is not a casual compliment. It is coming from someone who has spent decades reading body language, witnesses and evidence inside courtrooms, and it gives the film a rare authenticity signal before it has even reached audiences.

Why a prosecutor’s approval matters

Bollywood biopics often face two criticisms: they either turn complex people into heroes, or they drift too far from the known record. Nikam’s conditions and his reaction suggest Prahaar is trying to stay on the right side of that line. For fans of courtroom drama, that matters.

The film is led by Rao and carries an ensemble that points to serious dramatic intent rather than a glossy star vehicle:

• Wamiqa Gabbi
• Sikandar Kher
• Jaideep Ahlawat
• Nassar
• Ashish Vidyarthi

Rao’s last theatrical release was Maalik, directed by Pulkit and co-starring Prosenjit Chatterjee and Manushi Chhillar. After Prahaar, he is also attached to Dada, the biopic of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly.

For Hindi film fans, the Nikam endorsement turns Prahaar from another biopic announcement into a courtroom promise worth watching.

Source: India Today