Sikandar Kher on Prahaar, meeting Kasab's lawyer and working with Rajkummar Rao

Actor Sikandar Kher revealed that he met criminal lawyer Abbas Kazmi before portraying him opposite Rajkummar Rao in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. He said that the interaction helped him understand Kazmi's commitment to ensuring Ajmal Kasab received a fair trial.

In Short

• Sikandar Kher opened up on his meeting with Abbas Kazmi
• Kher said that the interaction helped him understand the principle of a fair trial
• The duo's sharp courtroom exchanges relied on pointed jibes and mutual give-and-take

For Sikandar Kher, the idea of an Indian lawyer defending Ajmal Kasab was difficult to wrap his head around. Kasab was the lone terrorist captured alive during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and the evidence against him appeared overwhelming. So, why would anyone choose to defend him? That was the question Kher wanted to understand before stepping into the shoes of Abbas Kazmi, the criminal lawyer who represented Kasab during the trial, in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam.

Meeting Kazmi before the shoot helped the actor look beyond his initial reaction. It also gave him a glimpse into the conviction it takes to defend someone accused of a crime that shook an entire nation. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Kher said portraying a real person, particularly one associated with such a high-profile trial, came with its own set of responsibilities.

While he was heartened by the response to his performance, it was a call from Kazmi himself that made the effort feel worthwhile.

Recalling their first meeting, which took place before filming began, the actor said, “I asked Avinash to plan a meeting with him. I needed to know how a person in that situation in this country comes on board to defend a terrorist like Kasab. By no means can it be an easy decision to take. And I just wanted to see what kind of conviction I can bring to the character.” Kher chose not to reveal much about their conversation, describing it as personal.

However, the meeting helped him understand the larger principle behind Kazmi's decision: the right to a fair trial, even when the accused is someone the country holds responsible for unimaginable violence. Kher's initial reaction was not very different from what many Indians felt at the time. The 26/11 attacks killed 166 people and left the country traumatised. Kasab's capture meant that the trial would become a crucial test of India's commitment to establishing his guilt through the legal system. That complexity was what made Kazmi an interesting character to play.

Interestingly, many viewers noted the physical resemblance between Sikandar and Kazmi. However, the actor said it was largely down to one detail: the beard. He was shooting for another project at the same time, but had to retain it because the film was based on a real story and the lawyer had a distinctive look.

Playing the lawyer on the other side of Rajkummar Rao's Ujjwal Nikam meant that Sikandar had to bring his A-game to the courtroom confrontations. But working with Rajkummar made the experience all the more enjoyable. The two had collaborated before, and their equation translated into an easy working relationship on the sets of Prahaar.

“It's great. We do damn well together. Both the times that I have worked with him in Monica, O My Darling and in Prahaar, I think both of us enjoy working with each other because both of us get the best out of each other,” Sikandar said.

The courtroom exchanges between Kazmi and Nikam required the actors to hold their ground, with sharp arguments and pointed jibes driving some of the film's most charged moments. Sikandar said the experience was particularly rewarding because of the give-and-take between the actors, allowing them to bring out the best in each other's performances.

Meanwhile, Sikandar's parents are yet to watch Prahaar. His father, veteran actor Anupam Kher, has been travelling for work and is currently filming in Sweden, while his mother, Kirron Kher, who is based in Chandigarh, recently arrived in Mumbai. The actor said she has been telling him every day that she wants to watch the film.

Given that both his parents are actors, Sikandar said he values their feedback, particularly because his mother is "brutally honest." For him, it is less about seeking validation and more about learning from people whose experience he respects.

- Ends