Actress Kriti Sanon has fired back at online critics who targeted her choice of outfit in a recent Raksha Bandhan advertisement, asserting that the spirit of any festival lies in emotions and personal bonds — not in what a woman chooses to wear. The actress posted a detailed note on her Instagram handle on Tuesday, 25 August, framing her response around sisterhood, cultural respect, and the policing of women's clothing.

The Advertisement That Sparked the Debate

The controversy erupted after Kriti Sanon appeared in a campaign for jewellery brand GIVA centred on Raksha Bandhan. Her look — an off-white ensemble comprising a bralette-style blouse, a cape, and a draped skirt — drew sharp reactions from a section of social media users who argued the outfit was inappropriate for a traditional Indian festival advertisement. The backlash escalated quickly, triggering a wide-ranging online debate about dress codes, cultural sensitivity, and the commercialisation of Indian festivals.

What Kriti Sanon Said

Addressing the criticism head-on, the 'Mimi' actress wrote on Instagram: 'The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions. 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 and long life. And for us, this prayer and promise extends to our dogs too! Afterall, they are family!'

She went further, directly challenging the tendency to measure a woman's cultural identity by her clothing: 'Also, when will we stop telling women what to wear?? Ethnic fashion has evolved over the years, but still a woman's respect for her culture is measured with just her clothes!! Culture and Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!'

Kangana Ranaut Enters the Conversation

A day before Kriti's response, actress and politician Kangana Ranaut also weighed in, taking an indirect jibe at the advertisement. While acknowledging that women today have a wide variety of clothing choices, Ranaut argued that certain occasions call for restraint. 'It's is a wonderful time to be a woman, our closets are full of variety of clothes, today's woman is a global woman, from cocktail dresses to lehnga cholis, jeans to saris, bikins 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?' the 'Tanu Weds Manu' actress wrote.

The remarks from Ranaut — who has been a member of parliament — added a political dimension to what had begun as a fashion controversy, drawing further attention to the episode.

The Broader Conversation

The episode is the latest in a recurring pattern where female celebrities in India face intense public scrutiny over their clothing choices, particularly in contexts tied to religion or tradition. Critics of the trolling argue that festival advertisements routinely feature stylised, fashion-forward outfits, and that singling out a woman's blouse neckline reflects a double standard. Supporters of the criticism contend that brands have a responsibility to reflect cultural sensibilities in festival-specific campaigns. Notably, the debate around Kriti Sanon's GIVA ad has drawn far more attention to the jewellery brand than the advertisement itself might have otherwise generated.

As the discourse around women, clothing, and cultural expression continues to evolve in India, Kriti Sanon's rebuttal signals a growing willingness among public figures to push back against online trolling rather than stay silent.