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

Ground Zero, the much-anticipated action-thriller produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, is drawing attention for its grounded and authentic portrayal of a pivotal moment in India’s counter-terrorism history. Based on true events, the film chronicles the mission led by BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey to track down and eliminate terrorist mastermind Ghazi Baba, the key figure behind the 2001 attacks on the Indian Parliament and Akshardham Temple.

Set in Kashmir during the early 2000s, Ground Zero stars Emraan Hashmi in his first-ever role as a security force officer, portraying Commandant Dubey. Sai Tamhankar plays his wife, adding emotional depth to the personal side of the officer’s journey. Director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar said the film remains deeply rooted in reality, highlighting not just the heroism, but also the complexity of the region and the time.

“This is completely based on a real incident,” Deoskar told ANI. “Dubey ji spent eight years in Kashmir, and during that time Ghazi Baba was a name that instilled fear. He was the mastermind behind the 2001 Parliament attack and became a very dangerous figure in the terrorist network.”

The film marks a departure from typical portrayals of military and paramilitary officers in Indian cinema. In an interview with PTI, Hashmi emphasised the importance of avoiding over-the-top patriotism. “The whole idea was not to go overboard with the jingoistic angle,” he said. “That can feel forced and disconnected from the truth. We wanted to stay as honest as possible to the story.”

He added, “We tried to strike the right balance between drama, entertainment, and emotional truth. Overdoing the drama can dilute the impact of what really happened.”

Ground Zero also made headlines recently for being the first Bollywood film in 38 years to premiere in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Hashmi described the event as a “symbolic moment” that reflects a renewed cinematic presence in the Valley.

With a powerful trailer already generating buzz, the film is poised to offer audiences a compelling narrative rooted in courage, sacrifice, and realism. All eyes are now on Deoskar to deliver a gripping account of one of the most critical anti-terror missions in recent Indian history.

It remains to be seen how well the film performs at the box office, considering that its release comes just days after the shocking terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The terror attack reportedly claimed the lives of 26 civilians and injured several others.

The film releases in theatres nationwide today, April 25.