The trailer for the upcoming biographical drama Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story has generated widespread buzz, particularly following its dramatic reveal of the actor portraying Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The virtually unrecognizable actor stepping into this intense role is Lalit Prabhakar. Directed by Avinash Arun and produced by Maddock Films, the movie features Rajkummar Rao as Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam alongside Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Sikandar Kher, with a theatrical release scheduled for October 16, 2026.
Born in Kalyan, Maharashtra, Lalit Prabhakar initially honed his craft in experimental theatre and earned the Ministry of Culture’s Young Artiste Scholarship. He achieved mainstream popularity through the hit television show Julun Yeti Reshimgathi before making his feature film debut in Chi Va Chi Sau Ka (2017), which won him the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Debut Actor. His career reached a major milestone with Anandi Gopal (2019), where his performance as Gopalrao Joshi earned him the Filmfare Marathi Best Actor (Critics) award.
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Known for his remarkable versatility, Prabhakar has navigated diverse genres including romantic comedies (Hampi), horror-comedies (Zombivli), slice-of-life dramas (Medium Spicy, Sunny, Super Duperr), and OTT series like Shantit Kranti and The Raikar Case. His performance in the 2025 romance Aarpar earned him a Filmfare Marathi Best Actor nomination, while Toh Ti Ani Fuji received international recognition at the Pune International Film Festival in 2026.
To portray Kasab in Prahaar, Prabhakar secured the role through auditions and undertook an extensive study of the figure’s speech, psychology, and body language. Marking a major transition into Hindi cinema, Prabhakar is simultaneously preparing to play another significant real-life figure: Dalit Panther co-founder and Padma Shri poet Namdeo Dhasal in the upcoming bilingual biopic Dhasal.
