/> It was meant to be a grand reunion of the Rowdy club. Akshay Kumar, producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his partner Shabina Khan, and director Prabhu Deva for the Hindi remake of the 2002 Tamil blockbuster Ramana.

Sadly Prabhudheva had to opt out due to prior commitment leaving the Rowdy team with no choice but to get another director.

Says a source, `While shooting Rowdy Rathore the team had decided to reunite for another Tamil remake. Ramana rights had been purchased by Sanjay Bhansali. And Prabhu was on board in principle.

But then after Rowdy Rathore he got exceedingly busy as a director with Ramaiya Vastavaiya, the film launching newcomer Girish Taurani followed by Rambo Rajkumar. After that Prabhu immediately goes into his film with Ajay Devgn. `

In fact the choice was between directing Akshay Kumar in the Ramana remake and Devgn in an untitled original film.


However Prabhu preferred to work with another actor. Also he has decided not to direct remakes of South Indian films.

Says Prabhu sorrowfully, `They asked me to do this film. I'd have loved to. It would have been a new experience for me. So far I've only directed out-and-out entertainers.

Ramana has strong social message. I'm at the moment completing Ramaiya Vastavaiya and Rambo Rajkumar. Both original scripts. In July I start my film with Ajay Devgn and that too is an original script. Moreover isn't it good to work with new actors and a new team constantly? Repetition makes you stagnant. `

We hear Devgn has made it very clear that he wants Prabhudheva to do a full-on action entertainer.

`My films also serve a social purpose. They're designed to be stress-busters. They make audiences forget their worries. Ajay Devgan film too is a complete masala script, guaranteed to make everybody forget their worries, ` promises Prabhudheva.