Prahaar, on Ujjwal Nikam, earns Rs 11 crore in four days
Representative image: 12019 / Pixabay
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, on the trial of Ajmal Kasab, earned about Rs 11 crore net in India in four days after its October 16, 2026 release.
What Happened
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, the Hindi courtroom drama about the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has earned about Rs 11 crore net in India in its first four days, according to box office trackers. The film, starring Rajkummar Rao as public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and directed by Avinash Arun, opened in cinemas on Friday, October 16, 2026. It collected about Rs 2 crore on its first Monday, October 19, and critics' reviews have been mixed to positive.
Key Facts
- The film: Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, a Hindi courtroom drama directed by Avinash Arun, with Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam.
- Subject: the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive in the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, told from the prosecution's side.
- Release: Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Opening day: about Rs 2.35 crore net in India, according to trackers.
- Day-wise (Koimoi and Sacnilk): Rs 2.35 crore, Rs 3.15 crore, Rs 3.65 crore and Rs 2 crore, for about Rs 11.15 crore net over four days; other trackers put the total between Rs 10.5 crore and Rs 11.6 crore.
- Worldwide: about Rs 15.41 crore gross after four days, according to Sacnilk.
- Reviews: critics broadly praised the subject and the performances but criticised the pacing, especially in the first half.
Why It Matters
The 26/11 attacks, in which gunmen struck several sites in Mumbai over three days, killed many people and are still remembered every year in Mumbai. Ajmal Kasab was convicted after a trial and was executed in 2012. Ujjwal Nikam, the special public prosecutor in the case, became a well-known public figure through it. A film that tells the story through the courtroom, rather than through scenes of violence, is a different approach to a subject that cinema has visited before.
The box office numbers show a steady but modest start. Collections rose over the first weekend, from about Rs 2.35 crore on Friday to about Rs 3.65 crore on Sunday, which usually means word of mouth is helping. The Monday figure of about Rs 2 crore is a normal weekday drop. The Dussehra holiday on Tuesday, October 20, was expected to give a lift, according to trade reports.
Critics' responses explain the pattern. Several reviewers found the film committed and serious, with Rajkummar Rao avoiding a simple imitation of Nikam, but said its slow first half and long running time hold it back. One review described its courtroom exchanges as the film's highlight. For a mid-budget drama without big action set pieces, steady collections over weeks matter more than a large opening.
The film also enters a crowded period, with festive-season releases competing for screens. How it holds in its second week will decide whether it becomes a modest success.
| Day | India net (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 16 | Rs 2.35 crore |
| Saturday, October 17 | Rs 3.15 crore |
| Sunday, October 18 | Rs 3.65 crore |
| Monday, October 19 | Rs 2 crore |
| Total (4 days) | Rs 11.15 crore |
Impact
Short-term: The Dussehra holiday and the second weekend will show whether the film can build on its first-weekend growth.
Long-term: A steady run would support the trend of Hindi films based on real legal cases and public figures, and add to Rajkummar Rao's record in serious dramas.
Who is affected: The film's producers and distributors, cinema owners, audiences interested in the 26/11 case, and the families and survivors for whom the attacks remain a personal memory.
Key Takeaway
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, about the trial of Ajmal Kasab, has earned about Rs 11 crore net in India in four days since its October 16, 2026 release, with mixed-to-positive reviews.
Questions and Answers
What is the film Prahaar about?
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story is a Hindi courtroom drama about the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker captured alive in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, told through the work of public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, played by Rajkummar Rao.
How much has Prahaar earned at the box office?
About Rs 11.15 crore net in India in its first four days, according to Sacnilk and Koimoi, with other trackers estimating between Rs 10.5 crore and Rs 11.6 crore. Worldwide gross was about Rs 15.41 crore.
When was Prahaar released?
The film was released in cinemas on Friday, October 16, 2026.
What did critics say about Prahaar?
Reviews were mixed to positive. Critics praised the subject and Rajkummar Rao's performance, but several said the film is slow, particularly in the first half.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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