Kareena Kapoor
Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor.Reuters

Bollywood actors Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, will reunite after a gap of 12 years for filmmaker Karan Johar's upcoming film "Shuddhi".

Announcing the lead cast of the film an elated Karan said, "I'm excited to see Hrithik and Kareena back after 12 years."

Reports of Kareena taking up the offer the comes at a time when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was apparently approached to play the female lead in "Shuddhi".

It was also said that Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone were being considered to play Hirthik's ladylove in the film.

Speaking about the film's plot and the Hrithik-Kareena duo Karan said, "When Karan (Malhotra) came to me with Shuddhi, his desire was to cast Hrithik and Kareena. I spoke to both of them and they were happy to be on board. The film is an intense love story and because it has a reincarnation theme, he has written a script that is dramatic and outstanding. Also, such a theme requires actors who can bring the desired intensity," The Times of India reported.

"To me, it is really an important casting. But I don't look at it as a coup. Kareena is beautiful, talented and a powerhouse performer. And Hrithik, well, what can I say? He can melt a nation just with his eyes," he added.

Hrithik and Kareena were last seen together in Sooraj Barjatya's 2003 film "Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon" which bombed at the box office. They also co-starred in "Yaadein," "Mujhse Dosti Karoge!" and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".

According to reports, the two stars stayed away from each other after rumours of their linkup started making rounds.

"Shuddhi" is expected to go on floors in November and will hit theatres during Diwali in 2014.