Cinema VinesRajkummar Rao’s biopic on the celebrated public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, Prahaar, has secured a new theatrical release date after a series of postponements. Maddock Films announced on Thursday that the film will hit cinemas on October 16, 2026. The update appeared on the production house’s Instagram feed, where a poster featuring the new date was shared with the caption, “#PRAHAAR - The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam, in cinemas 16th October 2026.”
The film, directed by Avinash Arun—known for his work on Paatal Lok and Three of Us—is produced by Dinesh Vijan under the Maddock banner. Rao, who portrays Nikam, had already gained attention with the teaser released in June, which showcased his physical transformation for the role: a 9‑10 kilogram weight gain, stubble, glasses, and a command of Marathi. The teaser also highlighted the tense investigative atmosphere surrounding the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, with the line, “Killing Kasab was easy, proving who sent him was war.”
Earlier, Prahaar was slated for an August 7 release but was shifted to avoid clashing with the big releases of Awarapan 2 and Batwara 1947. The new date, however, brings a new conflict: on the same day, Raftaar, a film starring Rao alongside Keerthy Suresh and directed by Aditya Nimbalkar, is scheduled to hit theatres. This coincidence means Rao could be seen on the big screen twice on October 16.
In addition to these releases, Rao is set to appear in the biopic of former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly, Dada - The Sourav Ganguly Story, which is slated for a May 14, 2027 release. With multiple projects lined up, the actor’s calendar is shaping up to be one of the most crowded in the industry this year.
