25 September,2026 02:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rajkummar Rao, Amitabh Bachchan, SRK (Pic/Instagram)
The upcoming episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 18 will see Mr. Amitabh Bachchan welcoming the team of the film Prahaar: Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Ujjawal Nikam. During a candid conversation on set, Rajkummar Rao opened up about his early days, his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, and how Mr. Amitabh Bachchan Sir's iconic presence shaped his dream of becoming an actor.
When host Mr. Amitabh Bachchan asked Rajkummar about his thoughts on Shah Rukh Khan, given that both hail from Delhi and share a common background, Rajkummar warmly recalled his early aspirations, saying, "Sir, since he himself is from Delhi, and I too decided at a very young age that I wanted to act. And one more thing, Sir, there was always a poster of yours in my mother's room because you have always been number one, and we have all been inspired by you. So, as I was saying, I was greatly inspired by Shah Rukh Sir's journey, how a boy from Delhi, from a middle-class family, went on to do theatre, then did so many shows on television, and eventually became a very big superstar. So, when I first came to Mumbai, I had come here for a show, but I wasn't selected. However, I would always stand outside your bungalow and in front of Mannat."
Deeply appreciating Shah Rukh Khan's remarkable spirit, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan shared his own admiration for the superstar, adding, "Let me tell you, I have worked with him, and he is the kind of person who never gives up on anything. Whatever the problem may be, he simply speaks up and boosts the confidence of the person in front of him so much."
Rajkummar Rao will be seen as a renowned prosecutor in Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story. The teaser shows that the film will mainly focus on an important part of his career - the trial of Ajmal Kasab after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. A key highlight of the teaser is Rao's effort to look and perform like the real prosecutor. From his appearance and body language to speaking Marathi, he seems fully transformed for the role.
Directed by Avinash Arun, Prahaar also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, and Tarun Sharma in pivotal roles. The upcoming film is slated to hit cinemas on August 7, 2026. Interestingly, the upcoming film also marks Rajkummar Rao's return to playing a lawyer, a role he was widely praised for in Shahid. His performance in that film even earned him the National Film Award.
Apart from Prahaar, Rajkummar Rao will also be seen in a biopic based on cricket legend Sourav Ganguly, titled Dada.
