Prahaar Cast: Every Actor and Character in Rajkummar Rao's Ujjwal Nikam Biopic
A complete guide to the Prahaar cast, from Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam to Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat and the supporting actors, plus the reported release delay and what remains unconfirmed.
Prahaar is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about Hindi releases of the season, not just because it brings Rajkummar Rao back to the big screen, but because it turns the camera on one of India's most recognisable legal names. This guide covers every announced actor in Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, separates confirmed casting from roles that have not been disclosed, and explains who Ujjwal Nikam is so the cast list carries meaning.
Prahaar at a Glance
Here are the key details verified so far:
- Title: Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story
- Director: Avinash Arun
- Producer: Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films
- Genre: Biographical courtroom drama
- Language: Hindi
- Lead: Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam
- OTT: No streaming platform or date announced yet
Producer Dinesh Vijan announced the theatrical release date on June 9, 2026, locking Prahaar for August 7, 2026 according to Business Standard. However, in late July 2026, several trade reports said the film had been postponed from that date. The makers have not made an official announcement and no new date has been confirmed as of this writing. More on this below.
Who Is Ujjwal Nikam?
Ujjwal Nikam is a special public prosecutor best known for leading the prosecution in some of India's most high-profile criminal trials. Born on March 30, 1953, in Jalgaon, he studied science before turning to law at SS Maniyar Law College, according to Times Now.
Nikam helped secure convictions in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial, in which Ajmal Kasab was sentenced to death. He has also served as special public prosecutor in cases including the Shakti Mills gangrape case, the Kopardi rape and murder case, and the murder of music mogul Gulshan Kumar. His work earned him Z-plus security and the Padma Shri in 2016, per the same report.
Speaking to PTI, Nikam praised the film's portrayal of his life. "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 said, as reported by Mint.
The Full Cast and Characters
Only one actor-to-character pairing has been officially confirmed so far: Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam. The rest of the announced cast is verified, but their specific roles have not been disclosed by the makers. Here is every announced actor:
| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rajkummar Rao | Ujjwal Nikam | Lead; the special public prosecutor |
| Wamiqa Gabbi | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Jaideep Ahlawat | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Sikandar Kher | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Ashish Vidyarthi | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Lalit Prabhakar | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Ritvik Sahore | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
| Tarun Sharma | Undisclosed | Undisclosed |
The lead cast of Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Lalit Prabhakar, and Ritvik Sahore is listed on BookMyShow. Tarun Sharma is also credited in the cast, alongside the same names, according to IMDb.
Which Roles Are Still Undisclosed?
The makers have not officially revealed the character names for the supporting cast. Wamiqa Gabbi, who starred with Rajkummar Rao in Bhool Chuk Maaf, is in a key role, while Jaideep Ahlawat and Sikandar Kher are described by the studio as playing pivotal parts, per The New Indian Express. Who each of them plays in the courtroom drama remains undisclosed, and no confirmed details exist yet for the parts of Ashish Vidyarthi, Lalit Prabhakar, Ritvik Sahore, or Tarun Sharma.
The Real Story Behind the Film
Prahaar is a biographical courtroom drama that revisits the defining criminal trials of Nikam's career, focusing on the legal battles surrounding the 1993 Bombay blasts and the 2008 Mumbai train attacks, as described on IMDb. The story follows the high-stakes trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive after the 26/11 attacks, and the pressure on Nikam as he argued for the death penalty in a case the entire nation watched.
The makers have described the film as inspired by events that shook the nation rather than a strict one-to-one biography, according to Box Office Worldwide.
The Creative Team
Director Avinash Arun also handles the cinematography, backed by producer Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock Films banner. The story, screenplay, and dialogue are written by Sumit Roy, with editing by Charu Shree Roy. On the music front, Pritam is credited as music director with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya and a background score by Alokananda Dasgupta, per BookMyShow.
Trailer and Promotions
The film's teaser was released in late June 2026 and immediately became a talking point for Rajkummar Rao's transformation. Rao has said he gained around 9 to 10 kg for the part, telling reporters he ate pizzas, sweets, aloo parathas, and biryani to look like the prosecutor without using any glam assist, per Business Standard. An official trailer had not been released as of this writing.
Release Details
Prahaar was initially locked for a worldwide theatrical release on August 7, 2026, in Hindi in 2D, per Times Now. BookMyShow listings continued to show the August 7 date, but in late July 2026, a trade source told Bollywood Hungama that the makers had decided to postpone the film, citing a crowded box office window around the Independence Day weekend. The postponement was not officially confirmed, and the makers had not announced a fresh date as of this writing.
No OTT platform or streaming date has been announced for the film.
What Remains Unconfirmed
- A new theatrical release date, if the reported postponement goes through
- Official character names for the supporting cast
- Any OTT or streaming rights deal
Information last checked on 2026-08-03.