Filmmaker Deepa Mehta has come on board to present Onir’s next feature film, We Are Faheem & Karun, the makers said in a press release on Friday. The film is a queer love story set in the background of geopolitical conflicts in Kashmir. It follows the lives of Karun, a security guard from Kerala stationed at a construction site, and Faheem, a local Kashmiri college student, exploring themes of love and friendship.

It is shot entirely in the scenic Gurez Valley in Kashmir, with dialogues in Kashmiri and Urdu, bringing an authentic cultural representation to the screen. We Are Faheem & Karun marks the first chapter in Onir's planned sequel to his critically acclaimed anthology I AM.

Speaking of her involvement in the film, Deepa said, “The film is incredible. Its themes of love, friendship, and duty are profound and universal. It is essential to highlight the heartbreak and humanity in geopolitical conflicts, and this film is particularly moving. Stories like this are so important right now."

Onir shared his thoughts on the film’s significance "This is not just a love story; it is a narrative about the complexities of human emotions amidst political and social turmoil. Through Karun and Faheem, I wanted to explore the courage it takes to love in a world filled with uncertainty. I am grateful to Deepa Mehta for believing in this story and helping bring it to a global audience."

Onir is known for helming films like My Brother…Nikhil (2005), Shab (2017) and Kuch Bheege Alfaaz (2018).