Rajkummar Rao’s Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story finished its first week as a niche, performance-led courtroom release rather than a broad theatrical event. Directed by Avinash Arun, the film collected about ₹17.15 crore net in India after releasing on 16 October 2026.
Worldwide, it grossed about ₹22.94 crore in seven days, including ₹2.5 crore from overseas, according to figures reported by NewsBytes. The film opened on 4,133 shows with 13% occupancy, improved over the weekend, and then eased through the weekdays. For a serious adult drama, that is a slow burn, not a rejection.
The case and the cast
The story follows public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam through some of India’s most consequential criminal trials, revisiting the legal battles after the 1993 Bombay blasts and the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Rao plays Nikam, with Wamiqa Gabbi as Jyoti Nikam, Lalit Prabhakar as Kasab and Jaideep Ahlawat as Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali.
Critical verdict: mixed to positive
Reviews are moderate rather than rapturous, and the praise is directed mostly at the acting. Outlook India gave the film 3 out of 5 and described it as an engaging courtroom drama that does not fully realise its potential
. Critics highlighted Rajkummar Rao’s quiet confidence as a prosecutor and Lalit Prabhakar’s Ajmal Kasab, while flagging slow pacing and personal subplots that feel underdeveloped beside the courtroom scenes.
Viewers calibrating expectations should place this closer to Rao’s Newton and Shahid than to his commercial comedies. Courtroom-drama fans will get the register they came for; audiences expecting a taut thriller may notice the slower stretches.
The theatre window is short
Ramayana arrives on 5 November and is expected to take most big screens. That makes this week the most reliable window for a cinema visit. A film that debuts at 13% occupancy and drops on weekdays is unlikely to hold many showtimes once a major release enters the market.
How to decide
- Go this week if you want the big-screen courtroom experience before the 5 November pile-up.
- Choose it for the performances if Rao’s serious work and Prabhakar’s Kasab interest you.
- Wait for OTT if slow pacing is a deal-breaker; it should remain a solid later watch.
The first-week number is modest, but the reviews suggest Prahaar will be discussed for its performances and courtroom detail more than its opening figures.
Source: RVCJ Media
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