Ground Zero director Tejas Deoskar opened up recently about shooting for the film in some unknown locations in Kashmir and called the experience to be ‘demanding’ and ‘enlightening’. The film stars Emraan Hashmi as BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey and unfolds between 2001 and 2003, based on BSF’s best operation in the last 50 years.
Speaking about the shooting experience, Tejas said, “Shooting itself is a very demanding task, and shooting in Kashmir has its own unique charm. I say ‘charm’ because, despite the challenges, there’s an opportunity to go to places a common man cannot. We were able to shoot the way we envisioned. We could access locations we believed would add value to the film, and we had the backing of local authorities and the community.”
He added, “Kashmir, as a location, is breathtaking—it’s beautiful, yet earthy and raw. The story demanded we capture both these sides. Since it’s set between 2001 and 2003, a period when Kashmir was in a very different state, with terrorism at its peak, the contrast was stark. That contrast between violence and paradise was both unique and deeply unsettling. To depict that, we had to explore locations that weren’t even accessible to tourists, places that are largely unknown. And we were fortunate to reach them.”
Tejas also underlined the contributions of the entire cast to make the shooting process smooth. “Over 25-26 days, we saw different landscapes, diverse social textures, met locals, and had some enlightening experiences. Often, you view a region like this only through the lens of the media, but being on the ground offers a very different, more truthful perspective. That’s exactly what we felt while shooting. I’d love to go back and shoot more stories based in Kashmir. I’m sure those stories would be just as compelling as Ground Zero.”
Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, Ground Zero is set to be released in theatres on April 25.
