Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi said that his recently released film Ground Zero was a story that needed to be told to the audience.
“It was our good fortune that we got to bring this story to the big screen. It makes for a fabulous cinematic experience — a story that was waiting to be told,” he said in an interview with Patriot.
Hashmi added that although the film features action, drama, and thrills, its core lies in an emotional human story about sacrifice. “The operation led by BSF officers against terrorism is at the centre of it,” he said.
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Portraying courage
In Ground Zero, Hashmi portrays Narendra Nath Dubey, the Border Security Force (BSF) officer who led the operation to track down the mastermind behind the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Parliament in New Delhi.
Hashmi recalled his initial reaction upon reading the script, saying he was blown away. “It’s a chapter from the history of our national security and perfectly encapsulates the adage, ‘truth is stranger than fiction,’” he said.
He emphasised that Dubey’s story is extraordinary and deserves to be widely known. “There’s an old phrase — truth is sometimes stranger than fiction — and this film exemplifies it,” Hashmi said. He remembered meeting Dubey for the first time and telling him that his story was more ‘filmy’ than most films. “It truly is, just like the bravery of our BSF officers. The planning and execution of the 2003 encounter are nothing short of extraordinary and unbelievable,” he said.
The 46-year-old actor underlined that the film is a tribute to the BSF. “This film was made in honour of the BSF. It showcases their courage, sacrifice, and the human side of our soldiers,” he said.
Speaking about the challenges of portraying a soldier, Hashmi admitted that the role was physically and emotionally demanding. “Every day brought new challenges for the role. I’m drawn to roles that make me nervous because that fear pushes me to work harder,” he shared. “It was on my bucket list to play an Army officer. It required both physical and emotional effort to authentically portray the psychological state of a soldier,” he added.
At the film’s recent premiere in Srinagar, Hashmi acknowledged the BSF’s pivotal role in ensuring the film’s authenticity. “The BSF’s support was crucial in the making of Ground Zero. Without them, this film wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.
Hashmi also spoke about the significance of the film’s premiere in Kashmir. “Our premiere happening in Kashmir sends a small message — Bollywood needs to come back to Kashmir and shoot there. We had a smooth shoot, and the people were wonderful. Our security was taken care of. I want to tell the film industry: come and shoot in Kashmir. We want more films to be released here,” he said.
It was Hashmi’s first visit to Kashmir. “I had never been to Kashmir before the shoot. I wasn’t sure how things would go, but I had friends who had vacationed there and shared great experiences. Some film crews I know had also shot there and had wonderful experiences. That gave me confidence,” he said.
Before arriving, Hashmi had a romanticised image of Kashmir. “I had the image of Dal Lake and the Kashmiri lanes in my mind. Shooting at Dal Lake and on a shikara was a dream come true,” he said. Although he did not have much free time to explore the valley properly, he said he thoroughly enjoyed the locations where the team shot. “I had wazwan recently quite late — because during the shoot I was on a strict diet and couldn’t indulge,” he shared.
When asked how he chooses different characters, Hashmi said it was manageable if he received the script on time. “I had almost five months to prepare for Ground Zero,” he said.
He also clarified that he never faced a shortage of film offers. “Offers were never reduced for me. This is a wonderful industry, and I have always been loved by it. I might have been choosy, but it was my decision to do fewer films, not because offers dried up,” he said.
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Speaking about his upcoming project Awarapan 2, which has been officially announced, Hashmi said, “The shoot will begin in July. The first part was very much loved by the audience. The second part is very important. I hope it will be liked by the audience.”
