Mumbai, Oct. 6 -- Rajkummar Rao was always the first choice for director Avinash Arun to play Ujjwal Nikam in Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam. For Arun, the casting came down to the actor's ability to take on complex characters with conviction and bring depth to them.

But there is also a personal connection behind their collaboration. Arun and Rajkummar have known each other since their college days. Their association goes back years, long before they came together professionally for Prahaar. The director says this made working on the film particularly special for him.

Arun also points to Rajkummar's instinctive approach to acting as one of his biggest strengths. According to the filmmaker, the actor trusts his instincts while...