By Rubu Zaidi
“We were shooting for about 30 days for our film Ground Zero. I feel happy to come back to Srinagar. It feels very nice. The weather is good here, it is better than Mumbai,” Emraan Hashmi said.
“It is a very important and symbolic moment for the people here, for this region. The people here are very good and talented, but they need a medium, an avenue in films and television to explore their creativity in any stream,” he said.
Directed by Tejas Deoskar, Ground Zero is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment.
The action thriller chronicles the story of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, who leads an operation to track Ghazi Baba, the mastermind behind the 2001 terrorist attacks on Parliament and the Akshardham temple in Gujarat.
Sai Tamhankar plays Emraan’s wife in the film.
A special screening of Ground Zero was hosted for the BSF jawans in Srinagar.
Emraan Hashmi gained fame in Bollywood partly due to his portrayal of grey or morally ambiguous characters, which was a unique approach for a leading man in the early 2000s.
He was also known for his acting in films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai and The Dirty Picture, which earned him critical acclaim.
Additionally, his association with the Bhatt family and the quality of music in his films, particularly those composed by Pritam, contributed to his popularity.
Emraan was one of the first leading men to consistently play morally complex characters, often venturing into anti-hero and villain roles.
This contrasted with the more traditional hero archetype often seen in Bollywood at the time, making him stand out.
He received nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai” and “Shanghai,” showcasing his acting abilities.
His association with the Bhatt family, particularly Mahesh Bhatt, who launched him into the industry, has also been a factor in his success.
Emraan Hashmi is known for his films featuring well-composed music, often by Pritam, which has been a significant factor in the popularity of his films.
While the serial kisser label may have initially been a source of controversy, it also became a defining characteristic of his early career and contributed to his unique brand.
He has since acknowledged the impact of this label and has worked to diversify his roles.
