Actress Kriti Sanon faces backlash on social media over her outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi responds in support. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, August 25, he says that a woman’s clothing and choices are hers alone and urges people to stop “trolling” women for what they wear.
Kriti Sanon also addresses the criticism, arguing that festivals are defined by emotions and traditions rather than clothing. She questions the idea of judging how closely someone connects to culture based on their neckline, and says the essence of Rakshabandhan is protection. She adds that she and her sister tie rakhi to each other and pray for each other’s health and long life, and she extends the idea of protection to include their pets mentioned in the ad.
Across outlets, the dispute centers on the perceived mismatch between traditional expectations and the outfit shown in the ad, particularly the bralette-style blouse. The main difference is emphasis: some coverage highlights the political support from Rahul Gandhi and his broader message against patriarchy, while others focus on Kriti’s explanation of tradition and personal freedom.
