EXCLUSIVE! 'Ground Zero' star Emraan Hashmi before the Pahalgam terror attack: 'It was a smooth-sailing shoot in Kashmir; more films should follow soon'

This interview was conducted a few minutes before the Pahalgam massacre. Emraan Hashmi shot the film in the state and talked about his experiences in Kashmir. He  mentioned that there weren’t any hiccups shooting there.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

Since it was shot in Kashmir, what’s the situation now and how safe is it?

Well, it’s great. We didn’t have any hiccups shooting there. It was a smooth-sailing shoot. We had a great team there, the locals who were very supportive. We had a landmark event that happened a few days ago in Srinagar where we did a red carpet event for the first time in 38 years. It went really well. More films and filmmakers should follow soon. More cinema halls should come up over there.

It’s a real character and you are playing a soldier. What kind of a responsibility was it?

It’s the first film we are making on the BSF. We are telling the story of BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey and the encounter that he planned along with his officers. It’s been two years of meticulous planning of the operation. It is definitely a responsibility because you are putting true events on the screen. It is one of the defining moments in the history of our national security. It’s the most important event the BSF led in their 50 years. It weighs heavy which means it was a huge task on our shoulders. We had to make sure he’s thoroughly researched.

How much of cinematic liberty was taken since you were also a part of the process?

At the end of the day, we are making a film so we have to pick the right points so that the audience enjoys it. There’s a certain sense of tonality in the drama and entertainment. But the series of events that unfolded in the period of two years have been well documented. It’s a tricky and tightrope walk but it has been done well by the writers and the director so that we do not force down the entire jingoism. They say that sometimes, true events are more bizarre than fiction, it’s one of those films.

Since you play a soldier, what was your fitness regime? Did you have to change something about your body?

Of course you have to look commanding on screen so I had to put on a muscle diet and undergo a lot of training. There was the BSF training as well with certain protocols. We went to the firing range for the first five days and used the weapons that were used back then. The salutes, the decorum, the uniform, the way they kind of approach certain protocols with their seniors.  And the whole disciplinary stance soldiers have; I had to learn all of it.

Cinema is changing and even the audiences have evolved because of the exposure to the digital medium and movies too. What do you have to say about that?

Things have evolved quite a bit due to the advent of OTT. There are fresh filmmakers, and fresh ideas, so that’s there. The taste of the audience has completely changed. The kind of content that they have, thanks to the iPads and phone screens with them. You really have to up the ante when you bring any stuff on the big screen. What we are missing in our cinema today and especially theatrical is that it’s not much rooted and ingrained in our culture. There’s a westernized sensibility that doesn’t connect with the audience.

What are your expectations from this film?

You expect the stars and the moon for every film. You make every film with the best of intentions with a lot of hard work, passion, and honesty. Once your film releases on a Friday, it’s not yours anymore. It’s up to them to either put it on the pedestal or rip it off. I always believe in the idea of giving a hundred percent till Friday. And then it is not my baby anymore.

What was your preparation for this role other than the physical training?

When you are playing a soldier or any other character, it is the emotional and psychological understanding of that character as well. It’s a really tough life out there for the BSF Jawans. They are posted in isolated areas. They are not able to speak to their friends and families for months. A high risk profession where anything could go wrong. In this film, we have gone back to 2001 when these soldiers were killed at point blank range when they were doing their duty by the terrorists. Thankfully, I had access to Mr. Dubey and could ask as many questions to get into his state of mind.

You’re also a father. Netflix’s  Adolescence recently made a lot of noise. What’s your take on how cinema can influence children?

It just mirrors what the state of our society is. Our children are growing over social media and as parents, we have no control over it. There is no censorship on the kind of content you see on Instagram. It’s no man’s land. Everything is up there on their finger tip. And it’s a dark web so it’s pretty dangerous and a serious situation. What’s the solution for this? You ask anyone and nobody knows.

WATCH the trailer of ‘Ground Zero’ here: