Kriti Sanon Revisits Raksha Bandhan Ad Controversy: When Her Outfit Became a Prime-Time Debate
Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has once again spoken about the controversy surrounding her Raksha Bandhan advertisement, this time recalling how a discussion about her outfit grew far beyond social media and reached prime-time television.
The actor addressed the episode while appearing on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s What Women Want Season 6. In the recently released promo, Kriti reflected on the attention her outfit received and admitted that she never expected her clothing to become the subject of a televised panel discussion.
The controversy had originally emerged around a jewellery campaign created for Raksha Bandhan. While the advertisement attempted to present the festival through a contemporary lens, the choice of clothing and some elements of the campaign triggered strong reactions online.
Kriti Sanon Says Her Choli Became a Television Debate
During her conversation with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kriti recalled her surprise at seeing the controversy move into television news discussions.
She described the situation as difficult to believe because her choli had effectively become a topic for a six-person panel discussion on prime-time news. Kareena acknowledged the point, highlighting just how far the controversy had travelled.
Kriti’s latest comments are significant because they focus less on the original advertisement itself and more on the scale of the public reaction. What began as criticism of a celebrity’s appearance eventually became part of a broader discussion about clothing, tradition and the expectations placed on women.
What Triggered the Raksha Bandhan Ad Controversy?
The advertisement was created by jewellery brand GIVA for Raksha Bandhan and featured Kriti celebrating the festival by tying a rakhi to her brother. She was also shown tying a rakhi to her pet dog.
Kriti wore an Indo-Western outfit featuring a bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt. The contemporary styling became one of the main points of criticism among sections of social media users.
Some viewers argued that the outfit did not fit their expectations of clothing associated with a traditional festival. Others questioned the presentation of Raksha Bandhan itself, including the decision to include a pet in the celebration.
The campaign was subsequently taken down, bringing another layer to the discussion surrounding the advertisement.
It is important, however, to separate the different aspects of the controversy. The campaign involved both a creative interpretation of Raksha Bandhan and a fashion choice. Public reactions focused on both elements, rather than on the clothing alone.
Kriti Had Already Responded to the Criticism
Kriti did not remain silent when the controversy first erupted. She addressed the criticism through social media and questioned the tendency to judge a woman’s cultural values through her clothes.
Her argument was that festivals should be understood through the emotions and meaning attached to their traditions rather than simply through someone's choice of clothing.
She also highlighted the relationship between siblings, explaining that Raksha Bandhan represents affection, protection and prayers for each other’s well-being. In her interpretation, the emotional meaning of the festival could extend to family members beyond conventional expectations.
Her response shifted the conversation from the advertisement itself toward a wider question: should a woman’s respect for culture be evaluated primarily through what she wears?
The Larger Conversation About Women and Clothing
The reaction to Kriti’s advertisement reflects a recurring debate in Indian popular culture. Celebrity clothing often attracts enormous attention, particularly when fashion is presented alongside traditional festivals.
For public figures, this scrutiny can become even more intense because advertisements are designed to reach large audiences and generate conversation. A fashion choice that might otherwise remain a personal decision can become a public talking point when it appears in a high-profile campaign.
Kriti’s comments suggest that she viewed the scale of the reaction as disproportionate. Her latest appearance also connects the incident to a broader question about whether women should continually be judged based on their clothes.
When asked what women really want during the What Women Want conversation, Kriti gave a straightforward answer: she wants women not to be judged and suggested that people should focus on their own lives rather than policing others.
Why the Controversy Continued to Attract Attention
The story has remained relevant because it sits at the intersection of several subjects that frequently generate public debate: celebrity culture, advertising, fashion, tradition and women's autonomy.
The fact that Kriti’s outfit became the focus of prime-time television also illustrates how celebrity controversies can expand rapidly. A social media disagreement can move into mainstream entertainment coverage and television discussions, giving the original issue a much larger audience.
At the same time, the episode shows why brands and celebrities need to consider how audiences with different cultural expectations may interpret festival-themed advertising.
A campaign can be intended as modern and inclusive while still receiving criticism from viewers who expect a more conventional presentation of a traditional occasion.
Kriti Sanon’s Current Perspective
Rather than treating the controversy simply as an argument about fashion, Kriti has used it to question the habit of judging women through their appearance.
Her latest comments to Kareena indicate that the unexpected part for her was not merely the criticism but the extraordinary level of attention the outfit received.
The controversy may eventually fade, but the underlying discussion is likely to continue. Fashion, cultural identity and personal choice often intersect in complicated ways, particularly when celebrities become the faces of festival campaigns.
For Kriti Sanon, the episode appears to have reinforced a simple point: an outfit can become the headline, but it does not necessarily define a person's relationship with culture or tradition.
On the professional front, Kriti was most recently seen in Cocktail 2, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.
