Mumbai: Actor Rajkummar Rao has revealed that he never met senior prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam before filming Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. Instead, the actor relied on archival courtroom footage, interviews and close observation of Nikam’s distinctive mannerisms to recreate his personality on screen.
Speaking on Day 2 of the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2026, during a session titled The Man vs. The Movie: Kasab, the 26/11 Attacks & the Battle for Justice, Rao discussed the preparation that went into portraying the lawyer best known for leading the prosecution in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks trial.
The actor said his research involved studying Nikam’s voice, physicality and ability to command a courtroom. He also revealed that he had to gain weight to portray the prosecutor at a particular stage of his life, marking a physical transformation he had not attempted before.
Rao also recalled the emotional intensity of recreating courtroom scenes, particularly one involving a young actor portraying a child witness. He said the performances and atmosphere on set were so convincing that the cast and crew sometimes felt as though they were reliving the horrific events being depicted.
Rajkummar Rao studies archival footage of Ujjwal Nikam
Rao said he could not meet Nikam before the film went into production, as the prosecutor’s professional commitments kept him busy with cases across Maharashtra and engagements in Delhi.
Rather than attempting to imitate Nikam based on a brief interaction, the actor turned to existing recordings to understand how he spoke and behaved in court.
“But I saw a lot of his videos, from the 1993 court case to the interviews. He loves talking because he has a knack for commanding the room,” Rao said.
He explained that he carefully observed Nikam’s voice, physical movements and characteristic gestures, incorporating those details into his performance.
“I was just picking up from those videos — his voice, his physicality, certain mannerisms that he would use. I would pick those up,” the actor said.
Rao also had to gain weight to portray Nikam at a particular age. He described the physical adjustment as an unfamiliar experience, adding another layer to the preparation required for the role.
His approach highlights how actors portraying real-life personalities often have to build a performance from several sources, especially when direct access to the person is limited.
Prahaar focuses on the 26/11 trial and Nikam’s life
Rao said the film is primarily centred on the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while also exploring aspects of Nikam’s personal life.
“The film is about national interest. This is about the 26/11 case and, of course, talking about his life a little bit here and there,” he said.
According to Rao, the story also touches on Nikam’s family and his relationship with his son as the events surrounding the case unfolded.
“So it’s a combination of so many things that we have touched on from his life, but mostly about 26/11,” he added.
Nikam represented the state in the trial of Kasab, the only attacker captured alive during the Mumbai attacks. The prosecution became one of the most prominent criminal proceedings in the country, attracting extensive public attention because of the scale and national security implications of the attacks.
The film seeks to bring that courtroom battle to the screen while placing it within the broader context of Nikam’s professional and personal journey.
Courtroom scenes left cast emotionally overwhelmed
One of Rao’s strongest memories from the production involved a courtroom sequence featuring a young actor playing a child witness.
Although he had already read the screenplay, Rao said the scene affected him differently when it was performed during filming.
“I had read the script, but still, on the day of the shoot, especially when we saw that little kid in the trailer, it was something else,” he said.
Rao praised the performances of the actors, including those appearing in smaller roles, and recalled how the young actor delivered her testimony with such conviction that the courtroom set fell silent.
“The kid came in and started giving her testimony. She started delivering her lines, her monologue. I remember everybody in the courtroom was just silent because she was doing it so well, as if we were all reliving those experiences,” he said.
The actor’s recollection suggests that the emotional weight of the scenes extended beyond the performers directly involved in each shot.
Recreating testimony associated with a real-life terror attack presented a particular challenge for the cast, given the suffering and trauma connected with the events.
Director Avinash Arun created an immersive set
Rao credited director Avinash Arun with creating an atmosphere that encouraged the actors to remain engaged throughout the courtroom sequences.
He said the production had around 50 extra actors in the courtroom on a typical day. Even when they were not directly in front of the camera, they continued reacting to the proceedings, helping maintain the atmosphere of a functioning courtroom.
“The kind of environment Avinash created on set was such that, no matter whose shot it was, everyone would be present in the courtroom,” Rao said.
He also singled out Lalit Prabhakar, who plays Ajmal Kasab, for remaining immersed in the scene even when the camera was focused elsewhere.
“Lalit Prabhakar, who plays Ajmal Kasab and is a brilliant actor, would sit quietly in his place, even when he wasn’t part of the shot. I would deliver my monologue, and everyone would remain involved,” Rao said.
He described the filming environment as a collaborative effort in which the actors continued to respond to the unfolding courtroom drama rather than treating their appearances as isolated performances.
“It was a beautiful set and a brilliant environment, with so many actors bringing those horrific experiences to life. It was emotionally overwhelming for all of us,” he added.
Prahaar features a strong ensemble cast
Directed by Avinash Arun, Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam features Rao in the lead role, with Jaideep Ahlawat, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sikandar Kher and Ashish Vidyarthi in key roles.
Lalit Prabhakar plays Kasab, whose trial forms a central part of the film’s narrative.
The project combines a courtroom drama with a biographical account of Nikam’s life, placing the legal proceedings within the wider context of the prosecutor’s career.
For Rao, the role requires more than physical resemblance. His preparation involved reconstructing the way Nikam spoke, moved and commanded attention in court, while also navigating emotionally demanding scenes based on real events.
Nikam had previously praised Rao’s portrayal, saying the actor’s body language was convincing enough for lawyers who watched the film to ask whether he had lived with the prosecutor to learn his mannerisms.
Film set for October 16 release
Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam is scheduled to release in theatres on October 16.
Rao’s comments at the conclave have offered an insight into the research and physical preparation behind the performance, as well as the emotional demands of recreating scenes associated with the 26/11 trial.
The actor’s decision to rely on archival material rather than direct interaction with Nikam became a defining part of his approach to the character. His account also places the courtroom performances and the director’s on-set environment at the centre of the filmmaking process.
With a cast led by Rao and a story rooted in one of India’s most closely followed criminal trials, the film will bring Nikam’s professional journey and the events surrounding the Kasab prosecution to the big screen.