Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, starring Rajkummar Rao as the famous public prosecutor, has earned about Rs 17.15 crore net in India in its first week after releasing on 16 October 2026. Critics have praised Rao’s performance and Lalit Prabhakar as Ajmal Kasab, but flagged slow pacing. Here is what reviews and the box office say.
What Prahaar is about
Directed by Avinash Arun, the courtroom drama follows Ujjwal Nikam’s work on some of India’s biggest criminal cases. It revisits the legal battles after the 1993 Bombay blasts and the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
- Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam
- Wamiqa Gabbi as Jyoti Nikam
- Lalit Prabhakar as Ajmal Kasab
- Jaideep Ahlawat as Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali
- Sikandar Kher in a key role
What critics are saying
Reviews have been mixed to positive. Outlook India rated it 3 out of 5, calling it an engaging courtroom drama that does not fully realise its potential.
- The good: Rajkummar Rao gets the quiet confidence of a prosecutor right, and Lalit Prabhakar’s Kasab has been singled out as one of the film’s strongest parts. The film also asks harder questions about what justice means beyond punishment.
- The not so good: the pacing drags in places, and some of the personal subplots feel underdeveloped next to the courtroom scenes.
If you liked Rao in Newton or Shahid, this is closer to that zone than to his commercial comedies. Courtroom fans will get what they came for; people expecting a fast thriller may check their phones once or twice.
Prahaar box office collection
| Day | India net |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (Friday, 16 Oct) | Rs 2.35 crore |
| Day 4 (Sunday) | Rs 3.65 crore |
| Day 6 (Wednesday) | Rs 1.5 crore |
| Day 7 (Thursday) | Rs 1.2 crore |
| Week 1 total | Rs 17.15 crore |
Worldwide, the film had grossed about Rs 22.94 crore after seven days, including Rs 2.5 crore from overseas, according to figures reported by NewsBytes. It opened on 4,133 shows with 13% occupancy, a slow start that improved over the weekend before dropping on weekdays.
Should you watch Prahaar?
Watch it in theatres if you enjoy real-life courtroom dramas and strong central performances. With Ramayana arriving on 5 November and likely to grab most big screens, Prahaar’s theatre run may not last long, so this week is your best window. Otherwise, it makes a solid OTT watch later.
For how Prahaar stacks up against this year’s other releases, see our list of the highest-grossing Bollywood movies of 2026, and our Drishyam: The Conclusion review for another October release.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prahaar a hit or flop?
Prahaar earned about Rs 17.15 crore net in India in its first week. It opened slowly, picked up over the weekend and dropped on weekdays.
Who plays Ujjwal Nikam in Prahaar?
Rajkummar Rao plays public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. Wamiqa Gabbi plays his wife Jyoti Nikam and Lalit Prabhakar plays Ajmal Kasab.
Who directed Prahaar?
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story is directed by Avinash Arun.
