'It deserves to be seen': Emraan Hashmi on playing real-life hero in Ground Zero

Ahead of the release of Ground Zero actor Emraan Hashmi opened up about the significance of the film his role and the emotional weight of portraying a reallife Border Security Force BSF OfficerSet in the early 2000s in Kashmir the film brings to the screen a critical mission led by BSF officer Narendra Nath Dubey who played a pivotal role in eliminating terrorist mastermind Ghazi BabaIn a conversation with ANI the actor opened up about the making of this ambitious film which is billed as the first cinematic tribute solely dedicated to the Border Security Force BSFThis is the first time a film has been made solely to honour the BSF Hashmi said adding We have seen stories based on the Indian Army and police before but Ground Zero is a tribute to BSF officers their courage and the sacrifices they have made for the country That in itself is a significant milestoneDescribing the mission depicted in the film as a defining operation in Indias national security history Hashmi emphasised its importance not just as entertainment but as a source of awarenessIts a mission that played a crucial role in safeguarding the nation The story deserves to be told and more importantly it deserves to be seen he saidHashmi takes on the role of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dubey in the film a man who led the critical operation that resulted in the elimination of the dreaded terrorist mastermind Ghazi BabaReflecting on portraying a reallife officer on screen the actor admitted to feeling an immense sense of responsibilityIt was a huge responsibility When you wear the uniform on screen you represent not just one person but the entire force Cinema has the power to preserve stories for generations and with that comes a duty to present the truth with sincerity he saidHe also spoke about the crews dedication to authentically portraying the lives and service of the officersThese are men who risked everything in the line of duty We had to be sensitive and deeply respectful while bringing their stories to life Emraan Hashmi saidThe actor also fondly recalled his first meeting with the man he plays on screen Dubey ji struck me with his humility Despite all he has done he considers it simply his duty he sharedWhile shooting in Rajasthan the actor witnessed firsthand the harsh realities that the BSF personnel faceThese officers spend months at a stretch away from their families stationed in extreme conditions That kind of sacrifice must be acknowledged he saidHashmi noted that it was Dubeys patriotism and simplicity that guided his performance saying He told me This was just another day at work for us because we love our country That emotion was vital to the characterSet in the early 2000s Ground Zero captures a tense period in Kashmirs history For Hashmi the experience of shooting in the valley was eyeopeningBefore visiting Srinagar I had certain assumptions due to the regions past he admitted adding But once I landed I was struck by its beautythe Dal Lake the fresh air the majestic mountainsits all etched in my memory nowHashmi also spoke about the support and warmth the crew received from the locals The perception of Kashmir needs to evolve We had no security concerns while shooting there The people were welcoming and we were showered with loveGround Zero will also be the first film in 38 years to have its premiere screening in Srinagar on April 18Hashmi believes this event will play a role in normalising the regions image These cultural moments matter They bring a sense of return to normalcy and show that Bollywood is engaging with the valley againThe Jannat actor also shared a glimpse into the genres he hopes to explore in the futureIve always wanted to do a science fiction film he said noting the relative scarcity of such stories in Indian cinemaWith the rise of OTT platforms and changing audience tastes the time is ripe for experimenting with genres I hope our theatrical films also start embracing these newer narratives he saidProduced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment Ground Zero is helmed by director Tejas Deoskar and backed by coproducers including Kassim Jagmagia Vishal Ramchandani Sundeep C Sidhwani Arhan Bagati Talisman Films Abhishek Kumar and Nishikant RoySai Tamhankar also plays a pivotal role in the filmThe recently unveiled trailer has already stirred emotions It offers a glimpse into the highstakes operation and the personal and professional trials of those involvedAt the trailer launch Hashmi summed it up best You know theres an old phrase that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction This phrase is appropriate for this film and story I remember when I met Mr Dubey for the first time I told him that your story is more filmy than our films And it really is Its nothing short of extraordinary and unbelievable the way our BSF officers carried out this operationGround Zero is set for a theatrical release on April 25This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies 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