We are impressed by Alia Bhatt. Lesser girls in love might lose focus but not our pint-sized powerhouse who will not allow any distractions when it comes to her career.

Buzz has it that she now has her eye on the Varun Dhawan-starrer Rannbhoomi. This period drama, being directed by Shashank Khaitan of Humpy Sharma Ki Dulhania fame, is Varun’s first attempt in the genre. It also sees him reunite with his director of Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania. While Varun was always supposed to be on board for the film, the female lead was yet to be cast. We did suspect that it would be Alia, given Shashank’s recent comment that it would be a hat-trick for Alia; however there were no confirmations in the offing.

Now they are expected to soon make it official. Alia has been letting her godfather Karan Johar know that she is very keen on featuring in the film. Well aware of how successful her collaborations with Varun Dhawan and Shashank have been, it will be no different for Rannbhoomi as well, she believes.

Incidentally, Dharma Productions’ Rannbhoomi is touted to be a reworked version of Karan Johar’s Shuddhi which never saw the light of day. Back in 2013, Karan had planned to make the film with Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. However, due to unknown reasons, Hrithik turned down the project. Following this, Salman Khan was approached for the project, but that also failed to materialise. Now, it is Karan’s blue-eyed boy Shashank Khaitan who has re-imagined the entire Shuddhi script for Varun. The film has also been rechristened Rannbhoomi for more auspicious reasons.

Asked if Alia would indeed play the female lead in this period drama, Shashank had claimed, “We have not spoken about Rannbhoomi because I’ve been busy with Dhadak. Once we are clearer about the script and sure of the casting ourselves, we will be in a position to reveal more. It’s a film we have dreamt of, so we won’t hide the leading lady.”

We bet they won’t – Alia Bhatt will simply not allow it!