Snehashish roy
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has responded to the controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying that women should be free to wear whatever they want while questioning why Kriti chose the particular outfit for the festive campaign.
Speaking to journalist Sudhir Chaudhary on Decode Live, Kangana said, “A woman can wear whatever she wants to wear on Raksha Bandhan.” She was responding to questions about her earlier Instagram post in which she described Kriti’s outfit in the advertisement as a bikini or undergarment and questioned the choice of styling for a Raksha Bandhan campaign.
Kangana said that Kriti was free to dress as she does in films and questioned who had stopped her from wearing anything she wanted.
The controversy began after Kriti appeared in a GIVA jewellery advertisement celebrating Raksha Bandhan. She was dressed in an ivory outfit featuring a bralette-style blouse, a cape and a draped skirt. The advertisement also showed her tying a rakhi to a dog. The campaign drew criticism from a section of social media users over the outfit and the portrayal of the festival.
Kangana had earlier written on Instagram Stories that women today have access to a wide variety of clothing, including traditional and Western outfits, and questioned why someone would tie a rakhi to their brother while dressed in what she described as a bikini or undergarments. She also described the advertisement as “intentionally creepy”.
Kriti subsequently responded to the criticism, saying that the essence of festivals lies in the emotions and meaning attached to traditions rather than clothing. She questioned why women’s respect for their culture continues to be judged through their clothes and said, “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline.”
Kriti also defended the advertisement’s depiction of pets, saying that Raksha Bandhan represents a bond of protection and that the sentiment extended to her dogs because they are part of her family.
The controversy continued after the jewellery brand withdrew the advertisement. GIVA said it had the “highest regard and deep respect” for Indian culture, traditions and festivals and that the advertisement was removed after the brand was made aware that it had inadvertently hurt the sentiments of some sections of society.
Kangana’s latest comments came after the advertisement had already been withdrawn and amid continuing exchanges over the campaign and the question of women’s clothing during traditional festivals.