Kajol, Rani, Anushka, DP to pair up with SRK in CE

Besides Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan might be romancing three of his previous leading ladies in Rohit Shetty's next

Back in June, we reported that Deepika Padukone is set to act opposite Shah Rukh Khan in director Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express. It will be her second film with SRK since Om Shanti Om (2007).

Now, if things go as per plan, Shah Rukh might be romancing three other actors, all of whom have been paired with him on-screen in the past — Kajol, Anushka Sharma and Rani Mukerji.

"The storyline requires three more female actors besides Deepika to play SRK's girlfriends in special appearances. So they have decided to rope in Kajol, Anushka and Rani, since they have already worked with him in the past. It will help build excitement about the film," says an insider.

SRK's association with Kajol goes as far back as Baazigar (1993), and the two last worked together in My Name Is Khan (2010). Rani acted for the first time with him in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Anushka has, of course, worked with him in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), and will now be seen in Yash Chopra's upcoming Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

"Right now, things are being finalised between the filmmakers and the three actors. Since the shoot of Chennai Express has just begun, they aren't in a hurry," says the insider. "It's unlikely that the makers would comment on it now as everything is being kept under wraps. But if all goes well, Kajol, Rani and Anushka would shoot their part within a couple of months."

So, just as we thought, when we contacted Shetty — who incidentally shot for the film till 4 am on Sunday — he said, "We've just started shooting. So, nothing is finalised. At the moment, it's not right for me to comment."

We also sent a text to Siddharth Roy Kapoor, CEO, UTV Motion Pictures (the co-producers), but didn't get a response.

Chennai Express went on the floors on September 25 at Yash Raj Studios.

"After wrapping up the portions at YRF, we will be moving to Mehboob Studios, Bandra, where a major part of the film will be shot," says the insider.