Sikandar Kher met Kasab's defence lawyer Abbas Kazmi to prep for Prahaar role

Sikandar Kher sat down with the real Abbas Kazmi

Actor Sikandar Kher has revealed that he met lawyer Abbas Kazmi — the man who defended 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Ajmal Kasab — to prepare for his role in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam.

Kher, who plays Kazmi in the courtroom drama directed by Avinash Arun, said the chance to explore a difficult legal and moral situation drew him to the project. The film also stars Rajkummar Rao as public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

"It's such a complex situation to be in as a human being. There must have been an internal conflict," Kher said in a chat with Mid-Day, reflecting on what may have driven Kazmi to take up Kasab's defence.

A meeting arranged by the director

Kher wanted to understand Kazmi's personality directly, believing it would help him approach the character with greater insight. Director Avinash Arun backed the idea and helped arrange the interaction, with screenwriter Sumit Roy also joining the conversation.

"I really wanted to meet the guy who took up Kasab's defence. We all were there — Avinash, Sumit [Roy, screenwriter] and Abbas Kazmi. As we chatted, I got a lot of insight into him. I tried to understand the man. The questions I asked him helped me gauge who he is, in a limited way; I learnt about the way he thinks and why he might have taken up the case," Kher said.

The actor acknowledged the limits of what a single meeting could reveal, but said the discussion gave him a more personal perspective on Kazmi's motivations and the reasoning behind his professional choice.

About the film

Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam released in theatres on October 16, 2026. Beyond Rajkummar Rao and Sikandar Kher, the cast includes Lalit Prabhakar as Ajmal Kasab, Jaideep Ahlawat, Wamiqa Gabbi and Ashish Vidyarthi. The courtroom drama revisits the legal proceedings tied to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

As reported on September 30, 2026, Lalit Prabhakar described playing Kasab as "a challenge, a very difficult role." Following the film's October 16, 2026 release, social media reactions were mixed — viewers praised Rao's courtroom turn but criticised the pacing.