Ground Zero Box Office Day 1: Emraan Hashmi’s film faces a tough start; Earns THIS much

Emraan Hashmi's return to the big screen with "Ground Zero," his first theatrical release in two years, has been met with a lukewarm reception. The action thriller, which premiered on April 25th, earned an estimated Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.20 crore on its opening day, according to early estimates from Sacnilk.com.

"Ground Zero" faced a tough start at the box office, despite generating decent pre-release buzz. The film, which opened on Friday, managed to meet its projected Day 1 target of Rs 1 crore but couldn't cross it by a significant margin. With competition from the re-release of "Andaz Apna Apna" and ongoing shows of "Jaat" and "Kesari 2," the action thriller had a challenging opening day.

"Ground Zero," backed by Excel Entertainment and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, features Emraan Hashmi in the lead role alongside Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain. Directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar, the film follows the story of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dubey, who was involved in the mission that neutralized terrorist Rana Tahir Nadeem, also known as Ghazi Baba, in 2003.

Hashmi portrays Narendra Nath Dubey, while Sai Tamhankar plays Jaya Dubey and Zoya Hussain takes on the role of Aadila.

The success of "Ground Zero" hinges on its performance over the crucial first weekend. The film's pre-release ticket sales were lackluster, and its box office trajectory now depends heavily on audience reception and word-of-mouth.

Emraan Hashmi has exciting news for his fans: he's set to return in "Awarapan 2," a sequel to his 2007 hit "Awarapan." The film is scheduled for release on April 3, 2026.

Hashmi's last theatrical release was "Tiger 3," alongside Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, which was a box office success, earning Rs 260 crore in India.

"Ground Zero" is a well-told and well-shot film, with a powerful story and strong performances, especially by Emraan Hashmi. But it also feels like déja vu. The themes of terrorism, border wars, and sacrifice, while important, have been explored so extensively in Indian cinema that they now struggle to feel fresh. Still, the film succeeds in keeping you engaged, emotionally involved, and often on the edge of your seat. It may not offer anything radically new, but it tells a real-life story with sincerity and style, a story that continues to be relevant, and maybe that's why we keep coming back to it.

- Review by India Forums