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Farhan Akhtar condemns the deadly Pahalgam terror attack after hosting a screening of his new film ‘Ground Zero’ in J&K.
Farhan Akhtar at Ground Zero screening in Srinagar.
Farhan Akhtar, who was in Jammu and Kashmir for a historic screening of his upcoming film Ground Zero, expressed his deep horror and grief over the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at a popular tourist spot, claimed the lives of 27 tourists and injured several others. Terrorists opened fire on the civilians at around 2:30 PM, sending shockwaves through the region. Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the incident as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.”
Farhan, who had hosted the first-ever screening of Ground Zero in Srinagar the day before, condemned the attack on social media. He wrote on Instagram, “Deeply shocked and horrified by the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This senseless act of violence against innocent lives is absolutely inexcusable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those who lost their lives and I stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir during this tragic time.”
The screening of Ground Zero marked a significant moment in the history of Indian cinema’s relationship with Kashmir. It was the valley’s first major film screening in nearly 40 years, drawing attention not only to the film industry but also to the ongoing struggles in the region. Ground Zero, which stars Emraan Hashmi as BSF commandant Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, is based on a real-life BSF mission set in 2001, a turbulent period for the region. The film sheds light on a chapter in Kashmir’s recent history marked by militancy and unrest.
In response to the tragic news from Pahalgam, actor Sai Tamhankar, who stars alongside Emraan Hashmi in Ground Zero, also condemned the attack. She posted, “Stunned by the news in Kashmir. I strongly condemn the terror attack in Kashmir. My thoughts are with victims and their families. Violence must never win. #Kashmir #Peace.”
In an interview with ETV Bharat at the screening, Farhan Akhtar addressed concerns that Hindi cinema often portrays Kashmir negatively. He explained, “It’s a mix. In the film, you see many genuinely good Samaritans and positive characters. But we’re portraying a time when there was militancy in the valley – you can’t look past that. It’s a period piece. It’s like when we show a certain time in history when there was unrest in society; we must present it as it was, without sensationalising anything.”
