Kangana Ranaut Slams Kriti Sanon's Controversial Rakhi Ad

A controversy that refuses to fade

A jewellery brand’s festive advertisement has been pulled from the internet, but the conversation around it is still very much alive. Kangana Ranaut has once again weighed in on Kriti Sanon‘s now-withdrawn Raksha Bandhan advertisement, clarifying that her objection was never really about what Kriti wore, but about what the advertisement left out entirely.

What Kangana actually said?

Speaking to Doordarshan, Kangana clarified that Kriti’s bralette-style outfit wasn’t the central issue driving her criticism. Instead, she said her larger concern was with how the advertisement presented the festival itself, pointing out that it included no visuals of deities, no teeka, and no dhoop, the kind of ritual elements she considers essential to how Raksha Bandhan is traditionally depicted. She also directly questioned Kriti’s earlier comments about women’s clothing choices, asking who had ever actually stopped Kriti from wearing what she wanted, given the range of roles and styles she has embraced in her career.

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Kangana's argument about festival "rules"

Kangana went on to frame her objection in broader cultural terms, describing festivals as the aesthetic expression of a civilisation, governed by their own set of rules much like religious rituals such as puja.

In her view, Raksha Bandhan carries the same kind of structure, and stripping it of elements like halwa, poori, and images of gods and rituals undermines what the festival is meant to represent. She argued that normalising this kind of stripped-down presentation “won’t work” and reiterated that aesthetics are inseparable from the meaning of a festival.

How the controversy started?

The advertisement, created for jewellery brand GIVA, in which Kriti is also a strategic investor, showed her tying a rakhi to her on-screen brother as well as her pet. It was framed as a Raksha Bandhan special release, but backlash quickly followed online, with criticism centered on Kriti’s clothing choice in the ad. Kangana had earlier reacted to the advertisement on Instagram without naming Kriti or the brand directly, calling it “intentionally creepy” and questioning why, given the wide range of clothing options available to women today, an outfit resembling innerwear was chosen for a rakhi-tying scene.

GIVA pulls the advertisement

Facing mounting criticism, GIVA withdrew the advertisement from all platforms. In a statement, the brand said it held deep respect for Indian culture and traditions and had not intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments, explaining that its goal had simply been to extend the festival’s spirit of celebration to include pets as part of the family. The brand apologised for any unintended offence while wishing audiences a positive festive season.

The bigger debate

The exchange between Kangana and Kriti has become part of a wider conversation playing out publicly, touching on questions of tradition, festival presentation, and how much say women should have over their own clothing choices in cultural contexts. With both actresses having voiced sharply different perspectives, the debate shows no sign of settling even after the advertisement itself has been taken down.

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Author: M Jyosri
A Junior Journalist passionate about reporting accurate, engaging, and reader-focused news across technology, business, education, health, entertainment, lifestyle, and current affairs. Dedicated to researching reliable sources, verifying information, and producing clear, factual content that follows ethical journalism standards.

Working closely with the editorial team, the author contributes news articles, feature stories, explainers, and trending updates while continuously developing reporting, writing, and digital publishing skills. Every article is prepared with attention to accuracy, clarity, and relevance to help readers stay informed about important events and emerging trends.

What did Kangana Ranaut say about Kriti Sanon's Rakhi ad?

She clarified her objection wasn’t about Kriti’s outfit but about the ad missing traditional elements like teeka, dhoop, and images of deities.

Why was Kriti Sanon's Rakhi ad controversial?

The GIVA jewellery ad drew backlash over Kriti’s bralette-style outfit while tying a rakhi to her on-screen brother and pet.

How did Kriti Sanon respond to the criticism?

She said a festival’s meaning lies in emotions and intent, not clothing, and questioned why women are still told what to wear.

Did the brand withdraw the advertisement?

Yes, GIVA pulled the ad from all platforms and issued a statement saying it never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments.

What was Kangana Ranaut's original reaction to the ad?

She had called it “intentionally creepy” on Instagram, questioning the outfit choice given the wide range of clothing options available today.