Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma in Yash Chopra film

Yash Chopra has officially confirmed that Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma will appear in leading roles in his next production.

The filmmaker's next directorial venture will see the two leading Hindi film heroines perform opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

"It's been seven years since I directed Veer-Zaara and as I begin work on my new film I hear my inner voice asking me a lot of questions. 'Are you sure you want to direct again? You are nearly 80 years old and the audience is getting younger day by day,'" said Chopra in a press release.

The veteran director, who has completed over fifty years in the film industry, raised a number of questions as he prepares to start filming on the untitled project.

Chopra asked: "Can I really speak from my heart and still expect today's youth to listen to me? Will I be able to live up to the blind faith that Shah Rukh Khan has in me and give him yet another memorable romantic film?

"Will I be able to present the beautiful Katrina Kaif and the very talented Anushka Sharma in a way they have never been seen before?"

Lamhe director Chopra outlined his faith in his audience, adding: "They have tolerated my indulgences for the past 50 years, I'm sure they will indulge me one more time."

The 78-year-old Punjabi filmmaker is the subject of an 2002 book by Professor Rachel Dwyer from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

The film, which features music from AR Rahman and lyrics from Gulzar, is scheduled for an October 2012 release.