Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has revealed the conditions he placed before the makers of Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story. He said the film should avoid glorifying any character, including himself, and retain the real names of people involved in the legal proceedings.

Nikam, who led the prosecution against Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case, explained that the filmmakers accepted both requirements. According to him, the team also obtained no-objection certificates from the people concerned, including judge Madan Laxmandas Tahaliyani, who presided over the trial.

His remarks offer an insight into the approach behind the courtroom drama. Nikam said the film includes portions of his life alongside the arguments and submissions he made in court.

Prahaar Makers Explored Questions Behind the Kasab Trial

Nikam recalled that producer Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films and director Avinash Arun approached him around two years ago. Their early conversations focused on the events surrounding 26/11 and the legal proceedings that followed.

Initially, he questioned the need for another film on the Mumbai attacks, a subject already explored in several productions. However, the filmmakers’ interest in the judicial process caught his attention.

Their questions included why the proceedings took time and why Kasab was tried under Indian law. Nikam said this perspective interested him and encouraged further discussions about the project.

The film’s promotional footage indicates that the Kasab trial forms a major part of the narrative, placing courtroom arguments and the prosecution’s challenges at the centre of the story.

Rajkummar Rao Earns Praise for His Portrayal of Nikam

Rajkummar Rao, who plays Nikam in Prahaar, joined him at the conclave. Nikam praised the actor for capturing the alertness, energy and forcefulness associated with his courtroom submissions.

He said Rao’s performance surprised him because the actor appeared quiet in person but displayed a commanding presence in the footage he watched. Several of Nikam’s lawyer friends also asked whether Rao had spent time following him to study his mannerisms. Nikam said that had not happened.

Directed by Avinash Arun, Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story also features Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and Tarun Sharma. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 16, 2026. Nikam’s comments highlight the expectations he brought to the project: recognisable real-life identities, a restrained portrayal of its characters and attention to the legal proceedings that shaped the case.