Deepika Padukone
Bollywood Actress Deepika PadukoneVarinder Chawla

Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone's present reigning position in Bollywood appears to have left Karan Johar spellbound.

Padukone earlier this year had turned down the filmmaker's ambitious project "Shuddhi," but it seems that he is not ready to forego the actress as he has approached the actress again.

The producer was recently spotted with Padukone having lunch at a posh hotel in Mumbai. The actress looked fresh dressed in white for the meet, reported Mumbai Mirror.

The quiet meeting of the celebs gave rise to speculations whether Johar is still trying his best to bring Padukone on board for his big budgeter "Shuddhi."

But an NDTV report has hinted that Johar is trying to woo the pretty lady for his next home production and the film will be directed by a debutant and would have Padukone pair with Shahid Kapoor for the first time, according to the report.

Since Padukone and Johar have successfully collaborated with the blockbuster "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" (2013), it is quite possible that the actress might consider the filmmaker's next project, if things fall into place.

It remains to be seen whether Padukone gives her nod to Johar's offer this time or turns down the film like "Shuddhi".

In the meantime, the actress has a superb line of films in her kitty like Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Happy New Year," Ranbir Kapoor and Imitiaz Ali's "Tamasha," Shoojit Sircar's "Piku" and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Bajirao Mastani" with Ranveer Singh. She will also be working with Arjun Kapoor in "Finding Fanny" which is set for release later this year.

As for "Shuddhi," recent reports have claimed that after Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, now Salman Khan is being considered for Johar's production. However, there has been no confirmation on the reports neither by the filmmaker nor the superstar.