Actors Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi have spoken candidly about their early reluctance to portray real-life personalities in the upcoming biographical courtroom drama Prahaar, in which they play renowned public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and his wife Jyoti Nikam respectively. The two stars shared their experiences during an appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, alongside the former special public prosecutor himself, with host Amitabh Bachchan drawing out the challenges of depicting people who are alive and widely recognised.

Rajkummar's transformation for Ujjwal Nikam

Rajkummar revealed that when director Avinash Arun Dhaware first approached him for the role, his immediate reaction was fear. The gap in age, physicality, and voice between himself and Nikam felt daunting. 'Sir, pehli baar jab mujhe Avinash Arun joh humare director hain film ke unhone jab bola ki yeh film ban rahi hain aur Maddock ke sath ban rahi hain toh main darr gaya ki kaise Ujjawalji ka role nibhauga kyuki age ka difference hain, physicality ka difference hain, and awaz ka difference hain. Par main aise manta hoon ki jiss cheez se darr lagta hain toh usko zaroor karna chahiye toh heen aap khud ko push karte ho nahi toh aap humesha comfort mein heen rahenge as an artist,' he said.

Unable to secure a personal meeting with Nikam owing to the prosecutor's busy schedule, Rajkummar turned to YouTube, spending 'hours of hours' studying his subject's mannerisms and vocal patterns. He also underwent a deliberate physical transformation, gaining weight to better match Nikam's build. 'Capturing Ujjawalji's voice was very difficult, and then I gained weight for the physicality,' he added.

Why Wamiqa Gabbi Initially Said No

Wamiqa Gabbi was equally apprehensive — and, by her own account, went a step further: she turned the film down outright at first. Her hesitation centred on being asked to convincingly portray a 50-year-old woman with grown-up children. 'Sir, inki tarah main bhi darr gayi thi aur maine toh pehle film keliye mana kar diya tha because ek toh I had to play a 50-year-old and meri toh abhi tak shadi bhi nahi hui aur vaha toh baache hain 22-23 saal ke,' she said.

She eventually reversed her decision after applying the same logic Rajkummar had articulated — that discomfort is a signal worth following. 'Fir vahi baat ki jiss cheez se darr lage voh karna chahiye aur maine bhi socha ki main bhi dekhlu ki main kitne paani mein hoon. Par Jyoti Ma'am itni pyaari hain ki later I realised ki main kitne strong insaan ka role play kar rahi hoon,' she said, describing how the depth of Jyoti Nikam's personality ultimately won her over.

About the Film Prahaar

Prahaar is a biographical courtroom drama charting the professional life and career of Ujjwal Nikam, one of India's most prominent public prosecutors, associated with several high-profile criminal trials. The film traces his involvement in cases connected to the 1993 Mumbai bombings and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, among others. Directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware and produced by Dinesh Vijan under the banner of Maddock Films, it also features Jaideep Ahlawat and Sikandar Kher in pivotal roles.

Release and Significance

Prahaar is scheduled to release in cinemas on 16 October 2026. The film arrives as Bollywood continues to mine the biographical genre for material, with courtroom dramas — particularly those rooted in real cases that shaped national consciousness — drawing strong audience interest. Nikam's role in prosecuting the accused in the 1993 and 2008 Mumbai attacks gives the film a built-in recognition factor that both raises expectations and sharpens the scrutiny on the lead performances.