Rajkummar Rao On Playing Ujjwal Nikam: “Things That Scare You The Most Are Fun To Do”

Rajkummar Rao has built a reputation for disappearing into challenging characters, but the actor says his repeated association with biographical films was never part of a carefully planned career strategy.

“It just happened. It is a mere coincidence,” Rao said at the second day of FICCI FRAMES in Mumbai, while reflecting on his work in films such as “Shahid”, “Aligarh” and “Srikanth”. His latest biographical role, in the upcoming “Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam”, sees him portray the celebrated criminal lawyer who served as public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial, which ended with Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab receiving the death sentence.

Rao, 42, admitted that taking on Nikam was initially intimidating. The lawyer is 73, with a very different physical appearance and a distinctive voice, making the transformation particularly demanding. “I was nervous,” Rao said, explaining that he had not known Nikam personally and had to rely on photographs and videos to understand him.

The actor spent hours studying Nikam’s mannerisms, watching his videos and photographs, and also read extensively about the 26/11 case, including books that offered details beyond what was publicly known about the trial. He gained seven to eight kg for the role as part of his preparation.

Directed by Avinash Arun, known for “Three of Us” and “Paatal Lok”, “Prahaar” also gave Rao a different experience on set. He recalled the intense silence during court scenes and said even around 50 junior artists remained deeply involved through multiple takes to create authentic reactions.

Rao believes such commitment is necessary because biopics are among the most difficult genres to make. At the same time, he insists he does not approach his career through the idea of being a “brand”.

“I’ve never seen myself as a brand,” he said, adding that his focus remains on the craft and the character rather than whether a film fits his perceived image.

“Prahaar”, produced by Dinesh Vijan, is scheduled to release in theatres on October 16.