Jayaram today expressed regret over his comments about a domestic help as "dark, fat, buffalo-like Tamil woman" and said they had been misinterpreted.

In a statement, the actor said, "it was a joke and not aimed at hurting the sentiments of anyone. I myself is a Tamil and how could I hurt the sentiments of Tamil people?"

"I have been in the Tamil film industry for 23 years and never have I hurt the feelings of Tamils. If at all, my recent comments had hurt womenfolk, I set out to seek an apology," he said.

Jayaram reportedly made the remark in a chat show on a Malayalam TV channel last week. Asked whether he had ever taken a second look at his house maid in real life, he had replied, "my maid is a dark, fat, buffalo-like Tamil woman. How can I even look at her?"

The comments raised the hackles of activists and various organisations, who condemned the remarks. They sought an unconditional apology from the actor.