Varun Dhawan tweets apology after taking a dig at Kangana at this year's IIFA Awards

The IIFA hosts this year, Saif Ali Khan and Karan Johar got together with Varun Dhawan and attempted to take digs at Kangana Ranaut on stage - pertaining to nepotism.

Also read: Varun Dhawan, Saif Ali Khan and Karan Johar defend nepotism, take a dig at Kangana at IIFA 2017

After receiving backlash from fans who were not happy that the trio made jokes at the expense of Ranaut, Dhawan has taken to Twitter to express his regret.

For the uninitiated, here's how it all went down: When Varun appeared on stage, Saif joked that the Dishoom actor was only there by virtue of his birth.

“You are here because of your papa (David Dhawan),” Saif quipped. Varun said: “And you’re here because of your mummy (veteran actress Sharmila Tagore).” Karan was quick to add, “I am here because of my papa (late filmmaker Yash Johar).”

Varun then went on address Karan, "There was a song in your movie, Bole chooriyan, bole kangana..."

“Kangana na hi bole toh acha hai, Kangana bohot bolti hai" (it’s better Kangana doesn’t say anything, she talks a lot)," was what the director said next.

Oh and then the three grown men said "Nepotism rocks" in unison.