New Delhi: Bollywood’s love affair with military biopics often treads familiar ground, and Ground Zerostarring Emraan Hashmi in uniform, doesn’t stray far from the formula. The film delivers a predictable mix of valour and heroism as it recounts a significant military operation, but it struggles to bring anything new to the table.

Hashmi portrays Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, a Border Security Force commandant and Kirti Chakra recipient who spearheaded the 2003 mission to neutralise terrorist Ghazi Baba in Kashmir. In the wake of recent events in Pahalgam, the film’s context feels particularly charged. To its credit, Ground Zero avoids heavy-handed political rhetoric or jingoistic fervour, opting for a restrained tone that earns it some respect.

The narrative traces the pursuit of Ghazi Baba, from the 2001 Parliament attack to his eventual demise at the hands of BSF troops. While the premise holds promise, its familiarity poses a challenge: How do you keep audiences gripped when the outcome is already history? Director Tejas Deoskar chooses a fact-driven thriller approach, blending military action with glimpses into a soldier’s personal struggles. The action sequences are crisp and well-executed, but the emotional beats often fall flat.

Writers Sanchit Gupta and Priyadarshee Srivastava craft a story of patriotic courage, focusing on a soldier’s perspective and the mental strain of such a high-stakes mission. The film honours its real-life hero with sincerity, but its overly streamlined execution leaves you detached, despite Hashmi’s committed performance. At one point, Dubey says, “We’re not here to scare people; we’re here to bring them along,” reflecting his trust in the local community. He forms a bond with a Kashmiri teen who becomes a key ally, but when the mission falters, the scenes meant to convey his guilt lack the intended punch.

The screenplay feels overly simplistic, weighed down by a conventional structure that sparks déjà vu. This limits Hashmi, whose character remains one-dimensional despite his efforts. Sai Tamhankar, reprising a familiar homemaker role from Agni, shines in a single standout scene where she deftly handles pointed questions about her husband’s work. Other supporting actors, however, are stuck in generic roles with little to contribute.

Despite its honourable intentions, Ground Zero is a dutiful tribute that lacks the emotional depth to truly resonate. A story of this weight deserved more soul to leave a lasting mark.