Feb 16, 2026 2:13pm IST
Rajkummar Rao Clarifies Viral New Look Is for Ujjwal Nikam Biopic; Not Sourav Ganguly Film
Rajkummar Rao hit headlines yesterday after making a red-carpet appearance in the city that had many do a double take. Looking markedly different from his usual self, the actor sparked curiosity among fans and netizens alike, with speculation quickly mounting about the reason behind his transformation. Soon enough, internet chatter suggested it was for the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic. However, Rao has now dispelled those rumors, confirming that the look was in fact for the Ujjwal Nikam biopic, not the Ganguly project.
Rao attended the Bolti Khidkiyaan Short Film Festival hosted by casting director Mukesh Chhabra, where his altered appearance triggered widespread conversation on social media. Some even trolled the actor over the change. In a recent post, Rao clarified the reason behind his look.
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Rajkummar Rao revealed that he had gained weight to portray the celebrated Indian special public prosecutor and politician Ujjwal Nikam, which contributed to his more mature appearance. He wrote, “My being is through my art. Just finished shooting for my next biopic #NIKAM and yes, it demanded that I change physically, which I love doing. I'm not a believer in prosthetics as long as I can achieve the look through hard work."
"Whether it’s gaining weight, looking older to play a certain age, or thinning my hair, which my hairstylist was very much against. People also told me not to go half bald for 'BOSE', not to gain that much weight or lose so much for 'TRAPPED', or not to behave like a visually impaired person even when cameras weren’t rolling during 'SRIKANTH.'”
Rao added, “For ‘Nikam,’ I had to gain around 9–10 kilos. I was eating two pizzas, lots of sweets, my favorite aloo parathas, biryani, and avoiding anything glam to look the part. Hopefully, when you see the film, which will be released soon, you’ll be able to see all that hard work on screen. Now it’s the transition phase — time to lose these extra kilos and get ready to slip into Ganguly mode. Our very own Dada. I will always work the hardest to engage and entertain you through my work. Much love.”
There are currently no release dates attached to either project. Rao will also be seen in the Netflix original “Toaster”.
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