Johar regrets mocking Kangana

Filmmaker Karan Johar has admitted the nepotism joke targeting Kangana Ranaut at the IIFA Awards stage was his idea and it is something that he regrets now. Johar, Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan raked up the nepotism debate during the award ceremony on July 15, where the trio chanted “nepotism rocks”, mocking Ranaut for calling the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director the “flag-bearer of nepotism” on his chat show earlier this year.

Dhawan apologised on Tuesday, while Johar in an interview with NDTV on Wednesday said it was a case of a joke gone wrong and it was never his intention to hurt anyone. “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. The idea of that joke was entirely mine, so I take onus of the idea of what we said. And I think we went a bit far by the Kangana mention.

“No matter what I say or feel about my issues with what Kangana said on my talk show. I think I was raised to be dignified, chivalrous and a decent person. That’s the upbringing that I was given and I feel that I failed on those accounts,” Johar said, adding that he is closing the chapter once and for all.

Ranaut’s comment on Johar’s show had kicked up the nepotism storm in Bollywood, where family connections often lead to better career opportunities. Johar had taken umbrage to the actress’ remark, which led to a verbal duel between him and Kangana after the show aired.

The topic cropped once again at the recently-concluded awards ceremony. —PTI