Ujjwal Nikam praises Rajkummar Rao for bringing his story to life in Prahaar

Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has praised Rajkummar Rao and Avinash Arun for bringing his story to screen in Prahaar. He said the film captures landmark prosecutions as well as the private loneliness behind them.

In Short

• The biographical drama centres on Nikam’s prosecution of Ajmal Kasab after 26/11
• It also explores his life as a husband and father
• Nikam said audiences rarely see the anxious nights before major verdicts

Public prosecutor and Member of the Rajya Sabha Ujjwal Nikam has showered praise on Rajkummar Rao for portraying him in the upcoming biographical drama Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. Ahead of the film's theatrical release, Nikam said the actor has brought his journey to the screen with sincerity and emotional honesty, while also commending director Avinash Arun for presenting an authentic account of both his professional and personal life.

The film revisits Nikam's role in prosecuting Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Reflecting on the adaptation of his life, Nikam said Rajkummar Rao had delivered a remarkable performance and credited Arun for creating a nuanced portrait that goes beyond the courtroom.

Watch the Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikamc teaser here:

What did Ujjwal Nikam say about Rajkummar Rao's performance?

Praising the lead actor, Nikam said, "Rajkummar Rao has delivered a remarkable performance, and Avinash Arun's direction is deeply impressive. Prahaar authentically portrays not only my journey as a public prosecutor but also my life as a husband and a father."

He added that while people often remember courtroom verdicts, they rarely think about the personal struggles behind them. "People remember the verdicts. They rarely remember the nights before them. Prahaar shows that side, the part no headline ever carried," he said.

What aspects of Nikam's life does Prahaar explore?

Apart from chronicling some of India's most high-profile criminal prosecutions, the film also delves into Nikam's personal life, highlighting experiences that have remained away from public attention.

Nikam, who has handled landmark cases including the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts and the 26/11 terror attacks, said the responsibility of prosecuting such matters often came with profound loneliness. "I've argued cases where the whole country was watching, and the loneliness of that responsibility is something I never spoke about. This film does. It stays honest to what happened, and in doing so, it tells a story I myself struggled to put into words," he said.

When is Prahaar releasing?

Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Sikandar Kher and Jaideep Ahlawat in key roles. Directed by Avinash Arun, known for Three of Us and Paatal Lok, and produced by Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films, the biographical drama is scheduled to release in cinemas on August 7.

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