Filmmaker Gautham Menon might be a lesser known name in Bollywood but the director is one of most reputed and respected directors down South.

So when the director decided to remake his super hit film ‘Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya’ in Hindi as ‘Ek Deewana Tha’, the director approached India’s rising star Ranbir Kapoor. But the director was shocked that not just Ranbir Kapoor but even his secretary refused to meet him.

“Ranbir was my first choice for 'Ek Deewana Tha'. I tried to get in touch in with. Forget about meeting Ranbir. I couldn't even meet his secretary. Yes, even the secretary refused to meet me,” confessed the director to TOI.

The director said that the reason he stays away from Bollywood is that he feels like an outsider here and prefers to work down South where he is treated with such respect.

“One reason why I've taken 11 years to make my second Hindi film is because I am comfortable working with the stars in the South, as they are with me. In Mumbai, I feel like a stranger. In fact I've had a number of offers to direct Hindi films. Vipul Shah wanted me to do the Hindi adaptation of my film 'Kaakha Kaakha'. I declined the offer. Nishikant Kamat directed the remake 'Force',” he said.

But it looks like Ranbir Kapoor’s rejection has come as blessing in disguise for the director as his second choice Prateik and Amy’s chemistry in the movie has been getting rave reviews.

“Our film is getting a positive vibe. People are saying the lead pair is looking good together,” he said.

Incidentally Gautham Menon isn’t the only director who has had a tough time contacting Ranbir Kapoor. Reportedly Sudhir Mishra has been waiting for months for the response from Ranbir Kapoor regarding his movie ‘Driver’. Even Raj Kumar Santoshi, who previously worked with Ranbir in ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’, had a tough time contacting him for a sequel, while Katrina Kaif had given a nod for the same.