Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus turned into the emotional centre of Prahaar on Tuesday as Maddock Films unveiled the trailer of Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The venue was loaded with meaning, given CST’s enduring association with the 26/11 attacks, the chapter that forms a key emotional and legal backdrop to the film.
The trailer launch was not designed as a routine promotional stop. By choosing CST, the makers tied the film directly to a site that remains deeply etched in Mumbai’s public memory. Prahaar revisits the legal pursuit that followed 26/11, with Nikam’s courtroom role placed at the centre of the story.
Rajkummar Rao said, “Playing Ujjwal Nikam was a responsibility I felt deeply in my heart from the very beginning. He is a real person whose work is deeply connected to one of the most difficult chapters in Mumbai’s history. I didn’t want to simply recreate a public figure; I wanted to understand the man behind the name; his conviction and his sense of duty. Working on Prahaar has been a deeply humbling experience, and I hope we have been able to tell his story with the respect it deserves.”
Director Avinash Arun Dhware said, “Prahaar is not just a retelling of an event that we already know. It is an attempt to look at what happened after the headlines faded; at the people, the questions and the pursuit of justice that followed. Ujjwal Nikam’s journey gave us a way into that world. The challenge was to tell a story rooted in real events while allowing audiences to connect with the person at its centre. I wanted the film to feel human, honest and grounded, while never losing sight of the weight of what actually happened.”
Ujjwal Nikam said, “26/11 is a chapter that Mumbai and our country can never forget. My association with that case was a responsibility I carried with the understanding that behind every file, every piece of evidence and every argument in court were real lives that had been affected. When Maddock Films approached me about telling this journey on screen, I was naturally thoughtful about it. Today, seeing this story being brought to audiences is an emotional moment for me. I hope Prahaar reminds us not only of the events, but also of the importance of courage, duty and faith in the pursuit of justice. I think the team has done a fabulous and honest job.”
Produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film stars Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam and is directed by Avinash Arun. Maddock Films has already confirmed Prahaar for a theatrical release on October 16, 2026, with Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Lalit Prabhakar and Ritvik Sahore in the cast.
