Well-known actor Shekhar Suman , who last directed Heartless featuring his son, Adhyayan Suman , has announced his next film as a director. The multi-talented man has taken up a very controversial issue of stone-pelters in the Kashmir valley. Titled Pattharbaaz – The Stone Pelter, the movie is a socio-political film based on real events. The film, which will be simultaneously shot in English and Hindi, will mount floors in early 2018.

“The film is a first-person account of a young man who picks up a stone at the age of eight and that sets him on a path of violence which he believes is a freedom struggle. Midway through his fight, after losing his younger brother and best friend, he chooses to turn his life around. But the people who followed him feel betrayed when their leading stone-pelter decides to back out,” says Shekhar Suman .

The actor-director further adds, “Stone-pelting is a very topical issue with stone-pelters seen to be at the forefront, given the strife and trouble in the Kashmir valley for the past two years. There are several issues here including paid stone-pelters. This issue raises many questions on whether these stone-pelters are paid by external forces or if it’s the youth from the valleys that are disgruntled and upset with the government.”

The actor believes that its primary message is that there is a place for harmony and brotherhood in the Valley. “A few of the stone-pelters believe that the real enemy is the Indian army but a few soldiers save them from danger,” adding that the scene was incorporated after he read about some jawans rescuing Kashmiri families during the 2014 deluge in the state, including those of stone-pelters. However, unlike his previous directorial venture, Shekhar will not be facing the camera this time around. “It would have been great to play the protagonist and have another director on board but I don’t want to lose focus. This subject is close to my heart and I believe it will be the start of a new journey for me behind-the-scenes,” he says.

The star cast of the film along with other crew members will be announced soon.