Mumbai’s courtroom legend Ujjwal Nikam, known for prosecuting high-stakes cases like the 26/11 attacks, Gulshan Kumar murder, and Bombay blasts, is getting the biopic treatment. Stepping into his shoes is Bollywood’s shape-shifting star Rajkummar Rao, who has once again pushed his body to extremes for authenticity.
Rao recently wrapped shooting for the upcoming series ‘Nikam,’ forgoing prosthetics and glamorous makeup in favor of real physical transformation. To embody the veteran lawyer, he packed on 9-10 kilograms through a relentless diet of daily double pizzas, heaps of sweets, favorite aloo parathas, and biryani. But that wasn’t all – to nail the aging look, he thinned out his hair with his stylist’s reluctant help, despite strong opposition.
Taking to social media, Rao shared his dedication: ‘Nikam required physical changes I absolutely loved making. I don’t believe in prosthetics unless I’ve exhausted my own efforts – be it gaining weight, aging up, or thinning hair, even if my stylist protested fiercely.’
This isn’t Rao’s first rodeo. For the series ‘Bosechand,’ he resisted team advice against gaining weight and going half-bald. In ‘Srikanth,’ he locked himself in dark rooms, acting blind without shooting, to perfect the role of a visually impaired character.
Rao’s commitment shines through his aversion to artificial enhancements, relying purely on method acting grit. With ‘Nikam’ in the can, he’s already shifted gears to Sourav Ganguly’s biopic, shedding some pounds in preparation. Fans eagerly await how his raw portrayal will captivate on screen, proving once more why he’s Bollywood’s transformation king.