Upala KBR (DNA; March 24, 2014)

Before Parineeti Chopra’s first film released, her superstar cousin Priyanka Chopra drew criticism for not supporting or promoting the budding actress. Four years after her debut, it is now Parineeti who is getting flak for not rolling out a red carpet for her cousin Meera’s entry into Bollywood. Meanwhile, Piggy Chops is going out of her way to help Meera find a footing in the film industry.

A source says, “While Priyanka and Parineeti are cordial with each other, the vibes between Meera and Parineeti are cold. It started when the Ishaqzaade girl told people that Meera was not her cousin but a ‘cousin’s cousin’s cousin’ and not really part of her family. She further added that they are so distant that they don’t even meet or talk. A hurt Meera immediately retaliated calling her comments as ‘unwarranted and stupid’.”

Meanwhile, Priyanka has been promoting Meera’s film Gangs Of Ghosts, which released last Friday. The actress posted the film’s theatrical trailer on Twitter and wrote ‘My sister’s first Hindi movie! Check it!’ Please note when Parineeti’s first film Ladies vs Ricky Bahl released no such gesture was made.

Meera takes a high moral ground and downplays how Parineeti brushed her off as a distant relative, “See, Parineeti is a younger sister. Our dads are first cousins. I’m sure she didn’t mean it how it came across. She may have said it without giving it a thought. I haven’t taken what she said seriously.”

Parineeti says, “Priyanka’s and my father are brothers. Meera’s father is their first cousin which makes her my second cousin. There are several factual inaccuracies in the news doing the rounds. Also, I have indeed not met Meera for a long time and haven’t been in touch. But I wish her all the best for her film!”