DEEPIKA PADUKONE, SIDDHANT CHATURVEDI IN SHAKUN BATRA'S NEXT
By Himesh Mankad, Mumbai Mirror | Updated: Dec 7, 2019, 10:08 IST
Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi in Shakun Batra's next
The actor-duo is set to play two of the four leads in Shakun Batra’s upcoming directorial, which revolves around contemporary relationships and kicks off in March next year
After directing two slice-of-life films, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012), featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Imran Khan, and Kapoor and Sons (2016) which was fronted by Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Fawad Khan, Shakun Batra is back with another contemporary tale, which will be produced by Karan Johar. Mirror has learnt that the yet-untitled film will feature Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi in the lead. It goes on the floors in March 2020.
According to a source close to the development, it is about relationships in the modern world and revolves around two couples, one of which is played by Deepika and Siddhant. “Shakun wanted to cast a fresh face alongside Deepika and he felt Siddhant fit the bill,” the source informs, adding that the leads will have several intense romantic scenes in the film.
After portraying the affable rapper MC Sher for his debut in Zoya Akhtar’s Ranveer Singh-fronted Gully Boy, Siddhant became the most spoken about debutant of the year. In a short span of seven months, he has signed three films, one of which is a comedy and has already gone on the floors. “Siddhant’s performance in Gully Boy won over the audience and was instrumental in getting him Shakun’s film,” the source reveals.
Shakun was working on several subjects before zeroing down on this one which KJo feels falls right in his director’s zone of filmmaking. “It’s a special script for both Shakun and Karan, and they are raring to take the film on the floors next year. It is set in India and the team is currently working on the logistics and finalising the locations,” the source informs. “Apart from Deepika and Siddhant, the film will feature two more prominent actors.”
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Shakun discussed the script with the actor-duo a couple of months ago and both instantly agreed to come on board. “Deepika has not done a film in this space for a while, and Siddhant is keen to portray different characters in the early days of his career,” the source states, adding that both will attend character development workshops with their director early next year. While interacting with Mirror (October 14), Siddhant had said, “I want to lead a normal life as that would help me extract better performances. I started filming a comedy some days ago, have signed a big two-hero action film and an out-and-out comedy with slig htly over-the-top, newage humour… I am also on the lookout for an intense romantic film.”
The relationship drama will be Deepika’s second KJo production after Ayan Mukerji’s 2013 romcom, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. The actress will next be seen in Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak, which is based on the life of the acid attack survivor, Laxmi Agarwal, and marks her foray into film production. She also has Kabir Khan’s ’83, her first film with Ranveer Singh since their wedding in November 2018. She plays Romi to Ranveer’s Kapil Dev in the sportsdrama.
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