Rajkummar Rao was always the first choice for director Avinash Arun to play Ujjwal Nikam in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. For Arun, the casting came down to the actor’s ability to take on complex characters with conviction and bring depth to them.

But there is also a personal connection behind their collaboration. Arun and Rajkummar have known each other since their college days. Their association goes back years, long before they came together professionally for Prahaar. The director says this made working on the film particularly special for him.

Arun also points to Rajkummar’s instinctive approach to acting as one of his biggest strengths. According to the filmmaker, the actor trusts his instincts while performing and does not overwork a scene. That approach also reflected on the sets of Prahaar, with several scenes coming together in the very first take.

For Arun, Rajkummar’s National Award-winning talent and his commitment to difficult roles made him the natural choice to portray Nikam. The actor steps into the role of the public prosecutor whose work on some of India’s high-profile cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial, forms the core of the film.

Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam is directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. The film stars Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikander Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Lalit Prabhakar and Ritvik Sahore. It is set to release in theatres on October 16, 2026.