Shot Entirely In Kashmir; Ground Zero Movie To Mark Historic Red Carpet Premiere In Srinagar on April 18

 Mudasir Yaqoob

Srinagar, Apr 15: Bollywood film Ground Zero, starring Emraan Hashmi, will hold its red carpet premiere in Srinagar — the first such high-profile cinematic event in Kashmir in nearly four decades.

Scheduled for April 18, the event is being hailed as a revival of Kashmir’s once-vibrant relationship with Indian cinema — disrupted in the late 1980s as insurgency gripped the Valley.

Ground Zero, the movie inspired by true stories, directed by Tejas Prabhaa Vijay Deoskar and produced under the banner of Excel Entertainment, presents a story of Border Security Force (BSF) officer. Emraan Hashmi essays the role of a BSF officer stationed in the Valley, grappling with intense professional pressures while confronting deep personal trauma.

“This is not a war film in the conventional sense. It is a human story — one that reflects the internal battles we rarely see on screen,” a crew member associated with the film told ANN News, requesting anonymity.

The decision to host the red carpet premiere in Srinagar, officials said, is both symbolic and strategic — a conscious effort to reintroduce Kashmir as a cultural and cinematic destination.

Local artists and film enthusiasts have expressed cautious optimism over the development, viewing it as a hopeful sign for the Valley’s long-stalled cultural economy.

“For years, we have hoped to see Kashmir reclaim its space in Indian cinema — not just as a backdrop, but as a participant. This premiere gives us hope that more filmmakers will engage with the local artists in a meaningful way,” said Riyaz Ahmad, a Srinagar-based artist.

“While Bollywood’s engagement with Kashmir has seen intermittent revivals in the past, the red carpet premiere of Ground Zero marks a significant milestone — not just for the film industry but for the Kashmir’s broader aspiration for cultural reintegration,” said a group of local youth.

Ground Zero has been receiving a lot of love from the audience, and its trailer was also well-received on Youtube having 30 million views, further fueling the audience’s anticipation. The film is releasing on April 25 in cinemas.

The film is based in Kashmir and has been entirely shot in t has been entirely shot in the Kashmir. Hashmi plays the role of BSF Commandant Narendra Nath whose mission is to execute the mission to execute terrorist Ghazi Baba.

Emraan during his shooting for this movie was thronged by fans in Baramulla and other parts of Kashmir.