Mumbai: The trailer of Rajkummar Rao-starrer Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story has sparked considerable interest, particularly after the final reveal introducing Lalit Prabhakar as Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The trailer was unveiled on September 29 at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), one of the locations targeted during the 2008 attacks. While Rajkummar Rao‘s portrayal of special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has drawn attention, it was Prabhakar’s transformation into Kasab that emerged as one of the trailer’s most discussed moments.
Lalit Prabhakar as Ajmal Kasab
Prabhakar reportedly secured the role after auditioning for the part. His preparation went beyond a physical transformation, with the actor studying Kasab’s language, body language and psychological aspects to portray the real-life figure on screen.
The role marks a significant departure from several of the characters Prabhakar has played in Marathi cinema and brings him into a major Hindi-language project.
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Who is Lalit Prabhakar?
Lalit Prabhakar is an established Marathi actor who began his career in experimental theatre. He was among around 30 artists from across India selected for the Ministry of Culture’s Young Artiste Scholarship.
He gained widespread recognition through the Zee Marathi television show Julun Yeti Reshimgathi. His performance in the series earned him the Best Actor award at the Zee Marathi Awards.
Prabhakar made his feature-film debut with Paresh Mokashi’s Chi Va Chi Sau Ka in 2017. His performance earned him the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Debut Actor.
National recognition with Anandi Gopal
One of the most significant milestones in Prabhakar’s career came with Sameer Vidwans’ Anandi Gopal (2019).
The actor played Gopalrao Joshi, the husband of Anandibai Joshi, one of India’s first women physicians. The film received two National Film Awards, while Prabhakar’s performance earned him several acting honours.
He received the Filmfare Marathi Best Actor (Critics) award, Best Actor at the Pune International Film Festival and Best Actor at the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for the role.
In 2026, Prabhakar also received a Jury Special Mention at the Pune International Film Festival for Toh Ti Ani Fuji, an India-Japan romance.
A versatile career across genres
Prabhakar has taken on a wide range of roles throughout his career. His filmography includes romantic dramas, horror-comedies, family stories and slice-of-life films.
He played a romantic character in Hampi and took on a double role in the horror-comedy Zombivli. He has also appeared in films such as Medium Spicy and Sunny.
His recent work includes Aarpar (2025), for which he received a Filmfare Marathi Best Actor nomination and the Zee Chitra Gaurav award for Best Jodi alongside Hruta Durgule.
In 2026, he appeared in Super Duperr, a family comedy-drama revolving around two households that are forced to live under the same roof.
The actor has also worked extensively in the OTT space, appearing in series including Shantit Kranti, Pet Puraan and The Raikar Case.
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From Gopalrao Joshi to Namdeo Dhasal
Prabhakar’s recent projects show a growing interest in portraying real-life personalities.
After playing Gopalrao Joshi in Anandi Gopal and now portraying Ajmal Kasab in Prahaar, he is set to play Dalit Panther co-founder and Padma Shri-winning poet Namdeo Dhasal in the upcoming biopic Dhasal.
The film features music by veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja. Prabhakar’s first look as Dhasal has already generated interest, with veteran make-up artist Shrikant Desai involved in creating the transformation.
Dhasal is scheduled to release in both Marathi and Hindi, further expanding Prabhakar’s presence beyond Marathi cinema.
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Prahaar release date and cast
Directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story features Rajkummar Rao in the lead role as Ujjwal Nikam.
The film also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher and Ashish Vidyarthi, along with Lalit Prabhakar.
The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on October 16, 2026.
For Prabhakar, the film represents a significant step into Hindi cinema while continuing a career marked by varied roles and performances rooted in real-life personalities.