Mumbai, Aug 11 (PTI): Actress Deepika Padukone will be seen opposite Shahrukh Khan in Rohit Shetty's 'Chennai Express'.

"Deepika is part of 'Chennai Express'. She has been finalised," sources close to the project told PTI. It was opposite SRK in 'Om Shanti Om' that the model-turned actress made her debut in Bollywood.

Lot of names like Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra were floating around for the leading lady of this film, which will go on floors from the end of September and would release mid-next year. 'Chennai Express' tells the story of a man (Shahrukh) who travels from Mumbai to Rameshwaram and what happens during the journey forms the movie.

Interestingly, this is for the first time that Rohit would be working without his close friend Ajay Devgn, with whom he has done eight films.

It is for the first time that he is teaming up with Shahrukh and Deepika. Despite repeated attempts, Rohit remained unavailable for comment.