Emraan Hashmi’s latest action thriller Ground Zero hit the silver screens on April 25, 2025, with moderate expectations but has so far seen an underwhelming response at the box office. Directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar and produced by Excel Entertainment, the film co-stars Sai Tamhankar, Zoya Hussain, and Mukesh Tiwari in key roles. Despite a gripping premise and a patriotic undertone, the film has struggled to maintain momentum in its first week.
Struggling Performance In The Face Of Heavily Competed
Having made Rs 5.5 crore in its first four days, Ground Zero experienced the usual Monday fall in collections. Yet, indications of morning trends on Day 5 (Tuesday) point to a possible, though limited, comeback. With the ‘Blockbuster Tuesday’ promotion by multiplex chains such as PVR Inox, which cut ticket prices to Rs 99–149, the movie should attract more visitors today. Though not a dramatic about-turn, this pricing move has provided the Emraan Hashmi-starrer with a much-needed fillip in metro and tier-2 cities.
The movie has been contending with stiff competition at the box office. It was released together with the re-release of cult favorite Andaz Apna Apna, which has drawn nostalgic crowds. Also, holdover releases such as Jaat and Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh are still attracting audiences. The packed release calendar has created serious challenges for Ground Zero to compete.
Plot and Performances
Ground Zero is based on the life of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dubey, played by Emraan Hashmi, who leads a bold mission against terrorist Ghazi Baba. The movie tries to merge high-octane action and emotional depth, especially in depicting conflict in the Kashmir valley. Emraan Hashmi does an earnest job, and the supporting cast of the movie, featuring Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain, lends authenticity to the narrative.
What Lies Ahead
With the release of bigger-ticket movies like Raid 2—starring Ajay Devgn, Ritesh Deshmukh, and Vaani Kapoor—next year, and horror-comedy The Bhootnii with Sanjay Dutt and Mouni Roy, Ground Zero doesn’t have much time to leave an impact. Its box office success will more or less rely on word-of-mouth and midweek business.
Also Read: Ground Zero X Review: Emraan Hashmi’s War Film Gets a Standing Ovation from Netizens
Post Ground Zero, Emraan Hashmi will be seen in Awarapan 2, the much-delayed sequel to his own 2007 cult classic. Until then, everyone waits with bated breath to see how Ground Zero holds up over the week despite fighting a busy theatrical schedule and increasing box office pressure.
