Karan Johar follows Varun Dhawan to regret for anti-Kangana

Karan Johar told NDTV: "Of course I don't believe that 'nepotism rocks'. Of course, I believe that only talent rocks. If anything that rocks, it's your talent, hard work and conviction."

"It's the energy you bring to your job. What we said was meant to be a joke, which I think has been misplaced, misunderstood and I think it went wrong. I regret it," he said.

Praising Kangana as an extremely gifted and self-made actress, Johar said he wants a closure on the subject now. 

The IIFA stage episode where Johar, Dhawan and Saif Ali Khan pulled off an act taking a jibe at Kangana Ranaut was apparently aimed at the actress who on Karan's show Koffee With Karan earlier this year called him "the flagbearer of nepotism" in Bollywood.

But the award show act did not go well with people at large as criticism poured in on social media from all quarters with many blasting the trio for what they called their "shamelessness" in bragging their privileged status in the film industry.

Varun Dhawan earlier tweeted: "I express my apology and regret .. I am extremely sorry if I have offended or hurt anyone with that act."

Karan,Saif and Varun made fun of the nepotism comment of Kangana and were seen saying on stage: "Nepotism rocks".