Emraan Hashmi says Kashmir has witnessed ‘turmoil' over the years, calls cinema a ‘unifier'

Time of India

25-04-2025

Emraan Hashmi
's new film
'Ground Zero'
hits the cinemas today, is not just another war drama. It's a powerful tribute to real-life bravery, and it's the first movie in 38 years to have a red-carpet premiere in
Srinagar
, Jammu & Kashmir. Held on 18 April 2025, the premiere was attended by jawans,
BSF
officers, and the cast and crew of the film.
The story of 'Ground Zero' follows BSF officer
Narendra Nath
Dhar Dubey, who led a crucial 2003 operation to eliminate terrorist Ghazi Baba. With Emraan playing the lead role, the film brings this gripping real-life mission to the big screen.
"Kashmir is such a scenic and wonderful place with great people."
In an interview with News18 just days before the tragic terrorist attack in
Pahalgam
on Tuesday, Emraan said that the Valley has witnessed 'turmoil' over the years and shared his thoughts about how meaningful the Srinagar premiere was especially given the history of conflict in the Valley. 'It (Kashmir) is such a scenic and wonderful place with great people. It was dogged by the insurgency that was prevalent there in the late 90s and the early 2000s, which has been shown in our film also," he said.
The 'Jannat' actor spoke about how movies can be more than just entertainment. 'Cinema is a unifier,' he said, hoping that the Srinagar screening sends out a message of hope and peace. He said, 'In a cinema hall, it's a communal viewing by people from different walks of life. When they go and enjoy a film, their experience sparks the same emotions. When the lights dim, you realise what a fantastic unifier it is.'
Real hero's reaction: 'It took them back to 2001.'
One of the most touching moments around the film came from the man it is based on. BSF officer
Narendra
Nath Dhar Dubey watched the film not once, but twice. His response? Deep appreciation.
'He has seen the film twice. I saw it with him in Delhi in November last year. He loved it. He was there with his family. They came out and said that it way exceeded their expectations and it took them back to 2001,' said Emraan.
The 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai' actor explained that Dubey had been unsure at first. 'I wouldn't say that he had reservations before but he wanted to know how it will play out. Sometimes, we end up making films jingoistic and over-the-top. I think that's the fear he had.'
Despite its powerful story 'Ground Zero' has had a quiet start at the box office. As per Pinkvilla, the film sold just around 4,000 tickets in top national chains through advance bookings. This means it'll need strong word of mouth and solid weekend numbers to pick up momentum.
Emraan Hashmi OPENS UP; Gets Real On Kashmir, 'Ground Zero' & The Return Of Awarapan | EXCLUSIVE
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