Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday cast in Shakun Batra's next

Nearly four years after his last film Kapoor & Sons (2016), Shakun Batra is headed back to the director's chair for his next film starring Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ananya Panday. Batra will co-produce the feature with Dharma Productions; the untitled film is due to be released on 12 February 2021.

The film, a modern day relationship drama, will be Batra's third feature after Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012) and Kapoor & Sons (2016). Chaturvedi bags his second big project in a row; he was recently cast in Yash Raj Films' Bunty Aur Babli 2 (2020) with newcomer Sharvari Wagh.

The drama will be Panday's fourth film; she is currently shooting for Khaali Peeli (2020) with Ishaan Khatter. Padukone, meanwhile, will be seen next in Chhapaak (2020) on 10 January 2020 which she is also co-producing.

Producer Karan Johar shared in a press release, "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 [venture] 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."

Batra added, "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. It's a relationship drama where the characters find themselves stuck in a morally ambiguous zone."

The untitled film is expected to begin filming early next year.