Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Apr 18 : Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi on Friday said it was a joy to be back in Srinagar as he attended the red carpet premiere of his upcoming film ‘Ground Zero’, calling the event a “symbolic moment” for Kashmir and a fresh chapter in the revival of cinema culture in the valley.
The premiere, held at Shivpora PVR in Srinagar, marked the first red carpet movie screening of actor Imran Hashmi in the city.
The event, as reported by the news agency, witnessed the presence of filmmakers, actors and dignitaries, who walked the red carpet and hailed the significance of the occasion.
Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters outside City Walk Mall Srinagar, Hashmi said he is very happy to be back in Srinagar. “We shot for Ground Zero here for about 30 days. The weather is fabulous—much better than Mumbai,” he said.
Reflecting on the importance of the screening, he termed it a positive and symbolic step for the people of Kashmir. “After years, a red carpet premiere like this has happened here. I request other filmmakers to follow suit and bring their movies to Kashmir,” he said.
The actor praised the hospitality and spirit of the Kashmiri people. “They are good, respectable, and hospitable. I have always wanted to come here again and again,” he said.
“Yeh yaha ki kahani hai, yaha se judi hui kahani hai (This is a story of this land, a story connected to Kashmir),” Hashmi said, referring to the emotional connect of Ground Zero with the region.
He shared about the creative potential of Kashmiri youth. “The valley has incredible talent. They just need the right opportunities to enter film, television, or other creative fields,” he said.
It is worth mentioning, the film, set against the backdrop of the 2001 Parliament attack, follows a BSF officer’s pursuit of the mastermind Ghazi Baba, culminating in India’s largest anti-terror operation.
As per the details, the screening was attended by co-producers Arhan Bagati, Abhishek Kumar and Nishikant Roy; actors Emraan Hashmi and Sai Tamhankar; director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar; and producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar.
