Ground Zero Movie Review & Release Live updates: The Emraan Hashmi starrer struggles at the box office with Rs 37 lakh collection on day 1

Emraan Hashmi is set to star in an upcoming film based on real-life events following Ground Zero. The film will also feature actress Yami Gautam in a pivotal role.

In Ground Zero, Emraan Hashmi will be seen portraying real-life BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey.

Zoya Akhtar recently gave a shoutout to Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming film, praising his performance and the project’s unique appeal.

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.”

One user wrote on X (formerly called Twitter), “Just watched #GroundZero and must say it is the most relevant reality of Kashmir! It’s absolutely raw and deeply rooted in truth! This film showcases a true story of BSF’s finest operations carried out in the past 50 years! I think every Indian needs to watch this! @emraanhashmi.”

Movies centred on foiled terrorist plots or the capture of militants often deliver gripping narratives infused with patriotic fervour. While many of us may have read about such missions, we are rarely made privy to the intricate details behind them. Director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar’s Ground Zero draws from one such real but lesser-known, high-stakes operation. It follows Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey and his relentless pursuit of practically a ghost—terrorist Ghazi Baba, whom he ultimately brought down.

Emraan Hashmi’s much-anticipated film Ground Zero has unfortunately had a disappointing start at the box office. The film, which marks his return to the big screen after playing the antagonist in Salman Khan’s blockbuster Tiger 3, was expected to open to decent numbers. Given the film’s sensitive subject — terrorism in Kashmir — and the tragic real-life incident that took place in Pahalgam recently, there was an assumption that the film might attract attention. However, it appears to be struggling since its morning shows on day one.

According to early trade reports, the film has witnessed several cancelled shows across the country due to lack of audience turnout. In fact, advance booking figures painted a grim picture even before the release, with just around 4,000 tickets sold across national multiplex chains for the opening day.As per box office tracking portal Sacnilk, Ground Zero collected an underwhelming Rs 37 lakh through its morning and early afternoon shows. With the way the film’s occupancy and collections have been progressing through the day, it seems like the film will find it difficult to cross even the Rs 1 crore mark by the end of its opening day. Trade has noted that unless there’s a significant turnaround in evening and night shows or over the weekend, the film is likely to suffer at the ticket counters.

One Twitter review reads, "I wholeheartedly recommend Ground Zero to everyone. It’s a cinematic spectacle, it’s about reality. An honest portrayal of Kashmir as it is. This film matters, and it deserves to be seen."

One early reaction reads, "I have never seen such a realistic situations of Kashmir on the screen before! Ground Zero is one film that speaks aloud the reality! This is what makes it a must watch for everyone!
@emraanhashmi
is terrific in his role. #GroundZero."

One Twitter review reads, "Ground Zero isn't much of an extraordinary storybut it's a reality on the face about Kashmir! Must say, Excel Entertainment has produced something incredibly timely and relevant. It’s the kind of film that makes you stop and think!
#GroundZero."

The Times of India reviewed the film "Movies centred on foiled terrorist plots or the capture of militants often deliver gripping narratives infused with patriotic fervour. While many of us may have read about such missions, we are rarely made privy to the intricate details behind them. Director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar’s Ground Zero draws from one such real but lesser-known, high-stakes operation. It follows Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey and his relentless pursuit of practically a ghost—terrorist Ghazi Baba, whom he ultimately brought down." Read the entire review

Speaking about working with Emraan Hashmi on the intense film ‘Ground Zero’, director Tejas Vijay Deoskar told Moneycontrol, "Absolutely. Emraan has a lot of talent, and though some of his films didn't do well at the box office, they performed well on OTT. He is often underutilized, and I was lucky enough to offer him a role in this film that he was interested in. Working with him was a breeze—he’s a brilliant actor, very professional, and approachable..."

BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey watched the film not once, but twice. His response? Deep appreciation. Emraan Hashmi told News 18, “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.

Directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar, Ground Zero centres on the 2003 counter-terrorism operation that led to the elimination of Ghazi Baba, the mastermind behind the 2001 Parliament and Akshardham Temple attacks. Emraan Hashmi steps into the role of BSF Commandant Dubey in what has been described as one of his most grounded and restrained performances to date.

“The whole idea from my first discussions of getting into a film like this was not to go overboard with the jingoistic angle. I think that looks a little forced, over the top. The audience, while watching the film, also feels a sense of being disconnected from the truth of the story,” Hashmi told PTI in an interview.

Ground Zero, the Emraan Hashmi-led action thriller based on the real-life story of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, opened in theatres this Friday. However, according to the advance booking trends, the film has seen a rather lukewarm response at the box office.The film, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under Excel Entertainment, has generated minimal pre-release buzz and is lacking the kind of excitement that typically drives strong opening day numbers. Despite the film's strong content and rooted narrative, early indicators suggest a modest start at the box office.According to a report on koimoi, trade analysts estimate the Hashmi-starrer will earn between Rs 1 to Rs 2 crore net on Day 1 in India.

With the premiere, the makers wanted to show the film first to the Jawans and Army officers standing on the Line of Defence and on the ground to protect us from the enemy. This move perfectly aligns with the film's theme of patriotism."Ground Zero" will be setting new benchmarks with its red carpet premiere in Srinagar on 18th April as no other film has had its premiere in Srinagar in the last 38 years, making "Ground Zero" the first to take this pioneering step after such a long time."Ground Zero" has been receiving a lot of love from the audience, and its trailer was also well-received, further fueling the audience's anticipation.

Based on a true story, 'Ground Zero' dives deep into the tension and bravery that gripped Kashmir during the early 2000s. The film that was released on Friday, amidst a tense backdrop of the Pahalgam terrr attack, has since struck a chord among viewers.One Twitter user who caught the early screening of the film, shared, “Watched Ground Zero today at a special screening in Delhi. The movie, co-produced by our Abhishek Kumar Ji, is set to release on April 25th. It's a proud and heroic portrayal of patriotism, based on the true story of Kirti Chakra winner N N D Dubey. This is a must-watch movie.”

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.

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.by TaboolaSponsored LinksYou May LikeJust two years old and diagnosed with cancer—help save her!Donate For HealthThe '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 | EXCLUSIVEBest Hindi Movies | Best Tamil Movies | Best Telugu Movies | Best english Movies | Best Malayalam Movies |

Actress Sai Tamhankar, who is currently juggling multiple projects such as “Devmanus," "Ground Zero," and "Gulkand," said that playing multiple roles simultaneously isn't a challenge for her.

Sai said, "Playing multiple roles simultaneously isn't a challenge; it's my passion and love. Acting, promotions, shoots, and travel—it all feels intertwined because I do it all with my heart."

Talking about “Ground Zero,” the film stars Emraan Hashmi in the lead as BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey on a mission to eliminate the notorious terrorist Ghazi Baba. Sai plays the role of his wife.

Actor Emraan Hashmi says the idea behind his upcoming film "Ground Zero", based on the heroism of a real life BSF officer, was to tell an honest story without going overboard with the jingoistic elements. The action-thriller, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, chronicles the story of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, who led the operation to track the mastermind behind the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Parliament and Akshardham Temple.
"The whole idea from my first discussions of getting into a film like this was not to go overboard with the jingoistic angle. I think that looks a little forced, over the top. The audience, while watching the film, also feels a sense of being disconnected from the truth of the story," Hashmi told PTI in an interview.

The actor said they wanted to stay true to the real life story as much as possible.

Tejas Deoskar also opened up about casting Hashmi in the lead role and revealed that he wanted to break the usual pattern of casting the same kind of actors in army roles.

"We've already seen his strong acting in films like Shanghai and got to know the kind of actor he is from that film," he said.

"When it came to the role of Dubey ji, I felt that we often typecast actors in army films. Toh shayad us mein mujhe lagta hai ki hum novelty factor bhul jaate hain. When Emraan's name came up, I thought he would bring that novelty. He's a powerful actor, and I was sure he would do justice to the role," the director added.

Director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar recently opened up about the significance of his upcoming film 'Ground Zero', which stars actor Emraan Hashmi and is based on true events.
The film, set in Kashmir during the early 2000s, follows a brave mission led by BSF officer Narendra Nath Dubey, who played a pivotal role in eliminating terrorist mastermind "Ghazi Baba."

While speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Deoskar shared that the film is deeply rooted in "real incidents" and focuses on the important mission led by Dubey.

"This is completely based on a real incident. Dubey ji, whose full name is Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, was a BSF officer posted in Kashmir. He spent eight years there and learned a lot about the people, the area, and the terrorism network. During that time, Ghazi Baba's name was everywhere. He was also the mastermind behind the 2001 Parliament attack... He became a very dangerous terrorist. Dubey ji played a major role in tracking and eliminating him. It is because of his efforts that the entire 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," Deoskar told ANI.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Member of Parliament, recently watched ‘Ground Zero’ during a special screening in the national capital, and hailed the film for its portrayal of BSF jawans.

The special screening of the film was held in Chanakyapuri, the high-profile diplomatic area of New Delhi on Saturday. The Delhi premiere was marked by appreciation, reflection, and a shared sense of pride in the story being told.

Ravi Shankar Prasad attended the premiere and watched the film along with BSF jawans and the ‘Ground Zero’ team. He interacted with Emraan Hashmi, who plays BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, director Tejas Deoskar, and co-producers including Arhan Bagati.

Talking about the film, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “It is a very good film and very well presents the work that BSF people have done to eliminate terrorism in Kashmir. My greeting to all the filmmakers”.

Tejas Prabha Vijay's action entertainer "Ground Zero" starring Emraan Hashmi became the first film in 38 years to get a red carpet premiere in Srinagar, Kashmir.

During an exclusive interaction with IANS, Tejas revealed that the special screening of the film felt like a full circle moment, given that the project was shot in Kashmir.

Asked about his experience in the valley, the filmmaker told IANS, "It felt like a full circle when we thought of premiering 'Ground Zero' in Srinagar because the story belongs to Kashmir. We started shooting in Kashmir and now that the film is complete, for the first time when we are showing it to the public, that is also happening in Kashmir. So, it's a full circle for the film and it was a surreal moment because we were showing the film to BSF officers, jawans, and the people around them. The film has a subject inspired from their lives, so that entire thing went on extremely well in terms of the positioning for the public viewing for the first time. The whole experience was brilliant."

Emraan Hashmi emphasised that hosting a premiere in Srinagar after a long gap sends a powerful message to encourage other filmmakers to consider Kashmir as the locale for film shoots and the venue for screenings.

"This is a positive step for the people of Kashmir. I hope more films are shot here," he said.

He also praised the warmth and generosity of the locals.

"Kashmiris are gracious and respectful. I always wanted to return and I'm glad to be back."

"With the trailer already sparking anticipation, all eyes are on director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar to see how this gripping story unfolds on the big screen," Excel Entertainment said.

The premiere of the action thriller movie, 'Ground Zero' was held at a theatre on Friday.

The movie portrays the story of a Border Security Force (BSF) mission. Marking the first film premiere in the Kashmir in 38 years, the event was a significant cultural moment and a proud occasion for both locals and the BSF.

Lead actor Emraan Hashmi, who plays a BSF Commandant in the film, was joined by co-star, Sai Tamhankar, director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar, and producers Ritesh Sidhwani accompanied by Dolly Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar with Shibani Dandekar.

The production team also attended the premiere making a spectacular entry for the special screening hosted for BSF personnel. Set in Kashmir, 'Ground Zero' is inspired by a real-life mission never before portrayed on screen.