Emraan Hashmi’s Ground Zero Gets Red Carpet Welcome in Srinagar
New Delhi | April 19, 2025 — Bollywood returned to Kashmir with the red carpet premiere of Ground Zero, starring Emraan Hashmi, at Inox, Shivpora—marking the Valley’s first such event in nearly four decades. (ALSO READ: A Nice Indian Boy: A Queer Rom-Com With 98% on Rotten Tomatoes—Went Stale in India)
The premiere took place at the Inox multiplex in Srinagar’s Shivpora area, making it the first Hindi film to be launched with such fanfare in Kashmir after nearly four decades.
The event marked a symbolic return for Bollywood to a region that was once a popular backdrop for many Hindi films. Starring Emraan Hashmi in the lead, Ground Zero is an action-packed thriller based on real-life events, chronicling the story of a Border Security Force (BSF) officer who played a critical role in counter-terrorism operations.
Emraan Hashmi Leads the Charge
The film stars Emraan Hashmi as BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, who was instrumental in tracking and eliminating Ghazi Baba—the terrorist mastermind behind the 2001 Parliament and Akshardham Temple attacks. The actor spent nearly a month shooting in Kashmir for the film and has been vocal about his admiration for the region and its people.
Speaking to the media in Lal Chowk, Hashmi said, “It is a very important and symbolic moment for the people here, for this region. The people here are very good and talented, but they need a medium, an avenue in films and television to explore their creativity in any stream.”
Hashmi further added, “The people are lovely, warm, and hospitable. I want other directors and producers to shoot in Kashmir and release their movies here. There is a lot of talent here.”
Kashmir Hosts Bollywood Royalty After Nearly Four Decades
The red carpet event was attended by the film’s cast and crew, including Sai Tamhankar, director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar, and producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar. Co-producers Arhan Bagati, Abhishek Kumar, and Nishikant Roy were also present at the premiere.
On social media, Hashmi shared his thoughts on the milestone, writing, “Ground zero touchdown landmark day: first red carpet movie screening after 38 years in #Srinagar. This is a special movie screening to honour BSF soldiers and their officers.”
Farhan Akhtar, who also co-produced the film, expressed his deep appreciation for the Valley. “Kashmir is beautiful and I love to be here,” he said.
Inspired by Real Events
Director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar highlighted that Ground Zero is rooted in real-life incidents involving BSF officer Dubey, who spent eight years in Kashmir during a turbulent period. “This is completely based on a real incident. Dubey ji learned a lot about the people, the area, and the terrorism network,” Deoskar said.
He explained that Ghazi Baba, one of India’s most wanted terrorists at the time, was at the center of multiple attacks. “Dubey ji played a major role in tracking and eliminating him. It is because of his efforts that the operation was successful. But he had to pay a heavy price for it. Still, he smiles and says that the cost is nothing in front of the nation,” the director added.
Breaking Stereotypes in Casting
When asked why Hashmi was chosen for the lead role, Deoskar pointed to the actor’s previous intense performances. “We’ve already seen his strong acting in films like Shanghai, and got to know the kind of actor he is from that film,” Deoskar said. “I wanted to break the pattern of casting the same type of actor for Army roles.”
Ground Zero – In Cinemas April 25
Ground Zero is slated for a nationwide release on April 25, 2025. Beyond the film itself, the event marks a broader shift—one that could see Kashmir becoming a regular feature in mainstream Bollywood again.
With a successful red carpet return after 38 years, the premiere of Ground Zero could pave the way for more Hindi films to be shot and screened in the Valley, reviving Kashmir’s rich cinematic heritage and offering local talent new opportunities to shine.