Priyanka skips Zanjeer event in Hyderabad to shoot for a song in Ram Leela

While there have been reports of Priyanka Chopra being miffed with her Zanjeer co-star Ramcharan Teja for apparently showing up late for their promotional event, the truth is, Ms Chopra too is very busy, too busy to even attend the massive music release function of Thoofan, the Telugu version of Zanjeer on Wednesday in Hyderabad. A source from Hyderabad says, “We were very surprised when PeeCee didn’t show up in Hyderabad. It was very big day for the Telugu Zanjeer and also for Ramcharan Teja’s wife Upasana. Her family’s Apollo chain of hospitals turned 25 years old on Wednesday. First there was a grand event at the Novotel hotel for the Apollo parivaar where Upasana’s grandfather who founded the Apollo chain was present. This was followed by the Thoofan music release at which all of Ramcharan Teja’s directors so far (he has done only 4 Telugu films) came on stage to wish him all the best.” Priyanka, we hear from Hyderabad, was to appear at both the events in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Instead she was seen in Mumbai on Wednesday evening walking the ramp for Neeta Ambani. When asked about conspicuous absence in Hyderabad Zanjeer director Apoorva Lakhia defended his heroine stoutly. “PeeCee has been co-operation personified. She has been promoting Zanjeer and Thoofan, and shooting for her song in Ram Leela. The reason she didn’t show up in Hyderabad was because she attended a fashion event in Mumbai for our Zanjeer producers (Reliance). And she sent a video message for our music function in Hyderabad which was beamed on every channel on Andhra Pradesh.” Regarding reports that Ramcharan Tejas has pissed off Priyanka by showing up late for Zanjeer events, a source from the Zanjeer team informs, “Yes, Ramcharan did show up more than an hour late for an event last week at the Mithibhai College in Mumbai. But that was because his driver got into a verbal scuffle. Ramcharan apologized to Priyanka and she was just fine with it. Now someone wants to portray Ramcharan as unpunctual and undisciplined on the eve of his Hindi release then what can we do? The truth is he is as driven, committed and punctual as Priyanka.” A source says Priyanka is burning the midnight oil to shoot her song for Ram Leela. “She had no intention of taking on a special song. But then Sanjay Bhansali personally requested her. She is working on Mary Kom of which SLB is the producer. So there was no question of refusing. But an extra song at this juncture means taking time off from other commitments. Priyanka is doing the best time-management possible.”