Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor
Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Ranbir KapoorReuters/ Varinder Chawla

With back-to-back releases and a couple of films lined up, Deepika Padukone is quite a busy star these days.

Recent reports suggest that Padukone's schedule is blocked until March, after which she would start shooting "Bajirao Mastani" with alleged boyfriend Ranveer Singh. Interestingly, she will first finish the shooting of Imitiaz Ali's "Tamaasha" with her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor and then join Sanjay Leela Bhansali's dream project.

"After 'Happy New Year' releases, Deepika will start shooting for Piku with Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan, which is likely to be completed by December. She will then move on to shoot for Imtiaz Ali's Tamasha opposite Ranbir Kapoor in the months of January and February. Only after that, most probably in March, will she be able to join the 'Bajirao Mastani' team," Mid Day quoted a source.

However, it was earlier reported that Padukone will join "Bajirao Mastani" cast after she is done with "SLAM! The Tour!" with "HNY" team in October. This sudden change in plan will most definitely raise eyebrows of many.

Also, does this mean ex-flame Kapoor is more important for the talented actress than working with Singh? Or was her schedule decided much ahead of signing "Bajirao Mastani"? While that remains to be answered, in other news, Priyanka Chopra and the "Kill Dil" actor have already begun shooting for the film.

While Chopra is a bundle of nerves about Bhansali's film, Singh reportedly shut himself up in order to prep for the role. The quirky actor, who reduced his fee for the period drama, will reportedly be going bald and lose his chiseled abs for the role of Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I to perfection.

Bhansali's "Bajirao Mastani" is a 15-year-old dream project in which he had initially planned on pulling Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on board. But because of their much-publicised and bitter break-up, the film was stalled.