Mumbai, December 21 (IANS): R. Madhavan and Chetan Bhagat embarked on joking Twitter exchanges in which the actor seemed to be subtly roasting the author.

It all started on Monday with Netflix India asking people to choose between books and movies.

Bhagat responded to the thread by saying, “” My books and the films based on them. “

This caught the attention of Madhavan, who replied, “” Hey Chetan… My bias is cinema> books. “

Soon a hilarious war of words began between the two on the microblogging site.

To Madhavan’s message, Bhagat’s response was: “Have you ever heard anyone say that the movie is better than the book?”

“Yes! 3 idiots,” Pat replied, Madhavan’s response, which referred to the 2009 blockbuster he starred in, based on Bhagat’s first bestseller titled “Five Point Someone”.

“Well, I’d rather be known as Chetan Bhagat than to be known as Farhan in this one movie,” Bhagat said.

“I am not known as Farhan. I am also known as Manu from ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, Kartikh from ‘Alaipayuthey’ and my favorite, Maddy kyunki mein rehta hoon sab ke dil mein,” said Madhavan.

The jokes lasted until the night, when Madhavan finally revealed that the exchanges were “scripted.”

Madhavan and Bhagat are currently seen in Netflix’s “Decoupd” series. It also stars Surveen Chawla.