Comics Riaad Moosa and Joey Rasdien have rubbished rumours of a rift after Moosa's comments at the Comics Choice Awards on Saturday night.

In fact, they are so friendly that they are now focusing on a movie they will start shooting together at the beginning of March.

The two had been nominated, along with Loyiso Gola and Nik Rabinowitz, for the Comics Choice Award - voted for by other comedians registered with the show.

Moosa came out tops and because of "too many personal issues at home" made his acceptance speech by pre-recorded video, which was shown to an audience of more than 1000 at the Teatro in Montecasino.

Moosa acknowledged his fellow nominees before saying "and also Joey Rasdien, we are actually doing a movie later in the year. We too have a lot in common, both of us are doing my material" to guffaws from the crowd.

But Rasdien was not impressed by the comments, and told The Times that he called Moosa to tell him he hadn't found his comment amusing.

But it seems it was all an inside joke that was misinterpreted.

Moosa was actually referring to their upcoming movie, My Material.

"Because there was such a big laugh after that line," said Moosa, "it drowned out my explanation that I was actually talking about the movie. Joey was upset with me because it seemed like a diss.

"Its not a nice thing to say and I apologised. We are good friends and it's unfortunate because, once things come out, they develop their own life."

Rasdien said everything had been sorted out.

He said yesterday: "I'm not upset. I called him and told him that it was a low blow. We had a great conversation about it and we are sorted; there is no beef.

"My problem was that it was insensitive because of what the public would think of me. And afterwards people at the after-party asked me whether it was a diss. I understood because people don't know about the movie."

Rasdien is also to start shooting Blitz Patrollie, with David Kau, Mel Miller, Chris Forrest and David Kibuuka, among others.

Moosa said he was "taking a step back from big performances" and would "give more time to my children" whom he felt he was neglecting.

Moosa will again appear on the second and third seasons of Loyiso Gola's Late Night News on e.tv.