Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi & Ananya Panday to star in Shakun Batra\'s next

Mumbai: Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday have been roped in as the leads in director Shakun Batra's next directorial.

The yet-to-be-titled project will mark next step in Batra's collaboration with producer-director Karan Johar after "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" (2012) and "Kapoor & Sons" (2016).

Described as a relationship drama, Shakun said the film will see its character finding themselves "stuck in a morally ambiguous zone".

"I have had a wonderful journey with Karan and his production house for almost a decade now, and I can't wait to get back into the director's chair for my next," the director said in a statement.

Karan and Shakun will produce the film alongside Apoorva Mehta.

"Shakun has directed one of the most acclaimed films of Dharma Productions — 'Kapoor & Sons'.

"With this movie, he also turns producer with us. His upcoming directorial is an intriguing relationship drama, which will release on Valentine's Day 2021. I am proud and excited about Shakun's vision as a versatile filmmaker," Karan said.

The film will go on floors early next years with a release date of February 12, 2021.

Deepika is currently awaiting the release of acid attack survivor story "Chhapaak". The Meghna Gulzar-directed movie will bow out on January 10.

Siddhant's next will be "Bunty Aur Babli 2" opposite newcomer Sharvari. The film, produced by Yash Raj Films, will release in 2020.