Marathi actor Lalit is all set to play the most challenging role of his career in Prabhakar. Prahar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. The actor plays 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the upcoming courtroom drama directed by Avinash Arun.
The film, in which Rajkumar Rao plays special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, revisits the legal proceedings that followed the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Prabhakar and Rao featured in several intense courtroom sequences, with the actor portraying Kasab during the high-profile trial.
For Prabhakar, the role marks a departure from the kind of characters he has seen him play before. The actor has worked in Marathi television and films, including credits Anandi Gopal, Hampi And TTMM. He also played a dual role in the horror-comedy. Zombiely.
Speaking about his preparation for the part in a chat with ETimes, Prabhakar said, “It was a challenging, very difficult role for various reasons. First of all, I had to understand Kasab’s psychology on screen and perform accordingly.”
The actor had to work on Kasab’s speech patterns and body to make the portrayal stand out.
“I had to catch the nuances of her language, which is different from ours, and adapt her body language. But more than that, I wanted to do something that I had never imagined. I always wanted to see myself in roles that were never imagined for me. I like to push my boundaries,” added the 39-year-old.
Prahar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam trailer
The trailer offers a glimpse of Prabhakar’s portrayal, including the court proceedings surrounding Kasab’s attempts to escape the death penalty. One of the key moments shown is when Kasab claims to be 17 years old, demanding to be treated under juvenile laws.
Sikandar Kher is playing the role of Kasab’s defense lawyer in the film. His character challenges the prosecution’s case and argues for the case to be moved to juvenile court, potentially preventing Kasab from receiving the death penalty.
Prahar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam Backed by Maddock Films, it also stars Jaideep Ahlawat, Wamika Gabi and Ashish Vidyarthi. The film is scheduled to release in theaters across India on October 16.
background
Kasab was the only terrorist of the 26/11 attacks to be captured alive. He was arrested on 26 November 2008 at Girgaon Chowpatty, when Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Ombal confronted him and helped stop him from escaping despite suffering fatal injuries.
The subsequent trial attracted widespread attention in India and abroad. The prosecution, led by Ujjwal Nikam, presented evidence proving Kasab’s involvement in the attacks. He was finally convicted and hanged in November 2012 at Pune’s Yervada Central Jail.