The trailer for Rajkummar Rao‘s upcoming courtroom drama Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story arrived on September 29, 2026, and one face in it has drawn more attention than anyone expected. Lalit Prabhakar, a well-known name in Marathi cinema, plays Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The transformation is striking enough that audiences and industry watchers are now searching for everything about the actor behind it.
Prahaar revisits the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks through the legal battle led by special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who argued the case against Kasab. The film is directed by Avinash Arun and hits theatres on October 16, 2026.
Quick Answers
- Who plays Ajmal Kasab in Prahaar? Lalit Prabhakar, a leading Marathi film and television actor.
- Who plays Ujjwal Nikam? Rajkummar Rao.
- When does Prahaar release? October 16, 2026, in cinemas.
- Who directed Prahaar? Avinash Arun, known for Paatal Lok and Three of Us.
- Where was the trailer launched? At Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai, one of the sites attacked on 26/11.
- Does Prahaar have an OTT release date? No streaming platform or digital release date has been announced yet.
Who Is Lalit Prabhakar?
Lalit Prabhakar is a Marathi actor who works across films, television, and theatre, and is regarded as one of the leading performers in Marathi cinema today. He began his acting journey in 2008, but became a household name with the Zee Marathi daily soap Julun Yeti Reshimgathi in 2013, where he played Aditya Desai opposite Prajakta Mali.
His big-screen debut as a lead came with Paresh Mokashi’s Chi Va Chi Sau Ka in 2017, a performance that earned him the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Debut Actor. He followed that with Hampi (2017), where he played a romantic lead, and later took on a double role in the horror-comedy Zombivli (2022).
Prabhakar grew up in Kalyan, Maharashtra, and comes from Samode, a village in the Dhule district. Before acting, he completed a graduation in Computer Science in Mumbai and received the Ministry of Culture’s Young Artiste Scholarship from 2010 to 2012.
Lalit Prabhakar’s Career: Key Films and TV Shows
Prabhakar’s filmography covers a wide range of genres. His most acclaimed role came in Anandi Gopal (2019), where he played Gopalrao Joshi, the husband of Anandibai Joshi, one of India’s first women physicians. The film won two National Awards, and his performance earned him the Filmfare Marathi Best Actor (Critics) award, along with Best Actor honours at the Pune International Film Festival and the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar.
His other notable films include TTMM – Tujha Tu Majha Mi (2017), Smile Please (2019), Dots (2020), Medium Spicy (2022), Sunny (2022), Colorphool (2022), Tarri (2023), Naach Ga Ghuma (2024), Ground Zero (2025), Aarpar (2025), and Premachi Goshta 2 (2025). In 2026, he received a Jury Special Mention at the Pune International Film Festival for Toh Ti Ani Fuji, an India-Japan romance that drew international attention.
On television, beyond Julun Yeti Reshimgathi, he appeared in shows like Kunku, Jeevlaga, Aabhaas Ha, and Dil Dosti Duniyadari. In the OTT space, he has featured in series including Shantit Kranti, Pet Puraan, and The Raikar Case.
For Aarpar, he received a Filmfare Marathi Best Actor nomination and won the Zee Chitra Gaurav Award for Best Jodi alongside Hruta Durgule.
How Lalit Prabhakar Prepared to Play Ajmal Kasab
Playing Kasab required far more than a physical transformation. In an interview with ETimes, Prabhakar said the role was “a challenge, a very difficult role, for various reasons,” and explained that he had to understand the psychology of Kasab before stepping into the character.
“I had to catch the nuances of his language, which is different from ours, and adapt his body language. But more than that, I wanted to do something that even I had never imagined myself doing. I have always wanted to see myself in roles that were never envisioned for me. I like expanding my boundaries.”
He also studied the details surrounding the 26/11 case to understand the character within the larger story rather than simply imitating his appearance, focusing on Kasab’s psychology, accent, and physicality. Prabhakar bagged the role after auditioning for it, and the filmmakers’ decision to cast him came from their willingness to see him in a completely different kind of character.
What Is Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story About?
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story is a biographical courtroom drama based on the life of veteran public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and his prosecution of Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial. The film revisits the legal battle that followed the attacks, with Nikam using the Kasab trial to establish the larger conspiracy behind the strikes.
The trailer opens with Nikam questioning a young girl about what she witnessed on the night of the attacks, then moves into the high-stakes courtroom confrontation. Kasab is shown taking the witness stand and claiming he was merely a tourist who had come to explore Mumbai.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the trailer at CSMT on September 29, calling the prosecution a moment of “final justice” and crediting Nikam with exposing the role of Pakistan in the attacks through the trial. Nikam himself recalled how Kasab repeatedly changed his version during proceedings, first claiming to be a minor, then giving different accounts of how he reached Mumbai.
Prahaar Cast: Who Plays Who
Rajkummar Rao leads the film as Ujjwal Nikam, with a transformation that has been widely noted for his appearance, body language, and Marathi dialogue delivery.
Wamiqa Gabbi plays Jyoti Nikam, Ujjwal Nikam’s wife, adding a personal layer to the story. Jaideep Ahlawat appears as part of a delegation from Islamabad, while Sikandar Kher plays a lawyer on the opposing side. Ashish Vidyarthi and Ritvik Sahore are also part of the supporting cast. Tarun Sharma features in a key role as well.
Lalit Prabhakar plays Ajmal Kasab, marking one of the most daring choices of his career and a striking departure from the romantic and slice-of-life characters audiences associate him with.
Prahaar Release Date and Where to Watch
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story releases in theatres on October 16, 2026. The film was earlier scheduled for August 7, 2026, before the makers announced the new date on August 13, 2026.
No streaming platform or OTT release date has been confirmed yet. The film is a theatrical release, and digital rights details are expected to be announced closer to or after its cinema run.
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Lalit Prabhakar’s Upcoming Projects
Prabhakar is expanding his work across languages and formats. He confirmed to Variety India that he is set to star in a Hindi film directed by Avinash Arun, the same director behind Prahaar, and is also working on a web series directed by Soumendra Padhi, known for creating Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega.
He is also working on a Marathi biopic based on the poet, writer, and Dalit activist Namdeo Laxman Dhasal, titled Dhasal. The film is in its final schedule, and Prabhakar has described the role as one of the most significant opportunities of his career.
Also Read: Prahaar Gets New Release Date: Rajkummar Rao’s Ujjwal Nikam Biopic to Arrive on October 16
Stay with VvipTimes for verified updates on Prahaar and the actors bringing this story to the screen.
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