"Slumdog Millionaire" star Dev Patel has been signed up to star in "Defiant", based on the true story of a double honour killing in India.

The film also features Australian actress Toni Collette.

It tells the tale of two Muslim women who allegedly killed their daughters because they had eloped and married Hindu builders.

Patel will play a young man who is trying to escape with his girlfriend from vengeful parents, while Collette will portray a journalist who is covering the story, reports contactmusic.com.

Bill Bennett is directing the project.