‘When will we stop telling women what to wear?’ Kriti Sanon responds to Raksha Bandhan ad criticism
Actor Kriti Sanon has responded to the controversy surrounding her Raksha Bandhan advertisement after actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut criticised her attire in the jewellery brand's campaign.
Without directly naming Kangana and also to social media trolls, Kriti questioned why women continue to face scrutiny over their clothing.
"When will we stop telling women what to wear?" she asked in a statement shared on her Instagram Stories.
Kriti said festivals are about emotions and traditions rather than the clothes a person chooses to wear.
"The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions," she wrote.
‘Culture & traditions are in her heart’
Addressing the wider debate over women's clothing, Kriti said ethnic fashion has evolved but women are still judged by their attire when it comes to their relationship with culture and traditions.
"Culture & traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!" she wrote.
The actor also defended the advertisement against criticism over her choice to tie a rakhi to a dog.
Kriti defends Rakhi for dogs
Kriti explained that Raksha Bandhan, for her, represents a bond of protection between loved ones.
"Rakshabandhan is a bond of protection," she said, adding that she and her sister tie rakhi to each other and pray for each other's health, happiness and long life.
She added that the same sentiment extends to their dogs because they are part of the family.
What Kangana Ranaut said
Kangana had criticised Kriti's advertisement on Monday, questioning why the actor chose to wear a bralette-style outfit while tying a rakhi to her brother.
Sharing the advertisement on Instagram Stories, Kangana asked: "Why would you tie your brother a rakhi in your bikini/undergarments?"
She described the campaign as "intentionally creepy" and argued that women today have a wide range of clothing options.
Kangana pointed to outfits ranging from cocktail dresses and lehengas to jeans, saris, bikinis and salwar kameez, questioning why Kriti's styling choice was made for a Raksha Bandhan campaign.
Social media debate over Kriti's look
The jewellery advertisement had already sparked criticism on social media before Kangana weighed in.
In the campaign, Kriti is seen celebrating Raksha Bandhan in a bralette-styled blouse paired with a cape and a draped skirt.
A section of social media users objected to what they considered a modern interpretation of festive attire.
Kriti's response has now shifted the focus of the controversy to a broader question about women's clothing, cultural identity and whether attire should determine how a woman is perceived during traditional festivals.
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