Kangana Ranaut has once again addressed the controversy over Kriti Sanon ‘s Raksha Bandhan ad for jewellery brand GIVA . the BJP MP has now clarified that the bralette was only a small part of her objection While her initial criticism centred on Kriti’s outfit.
She said her bigger concern was how the festival was portrayed, arguing that the ad did not capture the traditional elements she believes are central to Raksha Bandhan.
She added, “It won’t work without the teeka; Rakhi won’t work. In the campaign, she is seen tying rakhi to her brother and her pet dog, with the brand trying to underline that pets are family too. However, the ad soon faced backlash online, with viewers questioning her outfit as well as the way the festival was portrayed. Speaking on Decode Live, Kangana clarified that her criticism was not about telling Kriti what she can or cannot wear. “ Who is stopping them from wearing whatever they want? Who has ever stopped them? Why would anyone care what they choose to wear? A woman can wear whatever she wants on Raksha Bandhan. I feel the bralette was a minor detail, but Hindus, and we come from that background, are the ones who can point this out. Where are the parents? Where is the home? She further insisted that certain rituals should not be left out when depicting Raksha Bandhan. You say aesthetics don’t matter. No. A festival is an aesthetic expression of a culture and a civilisation. Raksha Bandhan is religious expression of a civilisation. Kangana further explained that, for her, the bigger concern was the lack of familiar elements associated with a Hindu festival. She questioned the absence of parents, a home setting and traditional touches such as halwa-puri, a deity, tilak, akshat, incense and a diya. She wrote, “It’s a wonderful time to be a woman. Where are all your styling options? Ha ha the advert looks intentionally creepy! She also specifically asked: “Why would you tie your brother a rakhi in your bikini/undergarments? Kriti Sanon hit back at the criticism without naming Kangana, taking to Instagram Stories to make it clear that she believes the spirit of a festival goes beyond the clothes someone chooses to wear. She wrote, “The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions. She also explained why the campaign included her dog and spoke about the way she and her sister view the festival. She further wrote, “Rakshabandhan is a bond of protection. My sister and I tie rakhi to each other. We know we can protect each other no less than a brother would have. We pray for each other’s health, happiness & long life. And for us, this prayer and promise extends to our dogs too! After all, they are family.
The controversy began after GIVA released a 36-second Raksha Bandhan ad featuring Kriti Sanon in an ivory bralette-style blouse, paired with a cape and a draped skirt. On August 24, Kangana took to Instagram Stories to voice her displeasure with the ad.
She said women are free to dress the way they want, even when celebrating festivals. There is no sign of halwa-puri, God, tilak, akshat, incense, or diya,” Kangana said. She ended her message with a pointed remark, “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”
She questioned why Kriti’s outfit was chosen for a festival like Raksha Bandhan, pointing out that women today have plenty of options when it comes to festive dressing. Our closets are full of a variety of clothes, today’s woman is a global woman. From cocktail dresses to lehenga cholis, jeans to saris, bikinis to salwar kameez, from all the options that are available to us today why would you tie your brother a rakhi in your bikini/undergarments?
