Tejas Deoskar talks about filming Ground Zero in Kashmir; says, “We filmed in locations unknown even to locals”

Director calls the Kashmir schedule a rare experience that brought depth and authenticity to the upcoming drama-thriller.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

April 16, 2025 - 2:50 PM IST

Director Tejas Deoskar opens up about the challenges and rewards of shooting Ground Zero, the upcoming Excel Entertainment film starring Emraan Hashmi as BSF Commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey. Set against the early 2000s insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the film is inspired by what is said to be one of the Border Security Force’s most significant operations in the past five decades.

Tejas Deoskar talks about filming Ground Zero in Kashmir; says, “We filmed in locations unknown even to locals”

Deoskar, who is known for his grounded narratives, describes the Kashmir shoot as a unique filmmaking journey. “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—thanks to the permissions we received and the incredible support from the LG’s administration,” he shared.

The director emphasized the importance of capturing both the natural beauty and the historical context of the region during that period. “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,” he added.

Tejas also credited the success of the shoot to on-ground support and collaboration with the local administration and production team. “A big thanks to the co-producer of the film, Arhan Bagati who was instrumental in making many things happen on ground—his support alongside the administration helped us immensely,” said Deoskar.

The team spent nearly a month in the region filming in lesser-known and largely inaccessible areas. “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,” he stated.

Reflecting on the experience, Tejas Deoskar continued, “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.”

Ground Zero is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment and co-produced by Kassim Jagmagia, Vishal Ramchandani, Sundeep C Sidhwani, Arhan Bagati, Talisman Films, Abhishek Kumar, and Nishikant Roy. The film releases in cinemas on April 25, 2025.

Also Read: Emraan Hashmi starrer Ground Zero to have a red-carpet premiere in Srinagar; becomes the first in 38 Years