Kriti Sanon Says Festivals Are About Emotions, Not Clothes, Addressing Criticism Over Her Controversial Raksha Bandhan Advertisement.
- Kriti Sanon faced criticism over her outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement.
- The campaign triggered a major debate on social media.
- Kriti said festivals are about emotions and traditions, not clothing.
- She described Raksha Bandhan as a bond of protection.
- Kriti said their prayers also extend to their dogs, whom she considers family.
- She questioned why women are repeatedly told what to wear.
- She argued that cultural respect should not be measured by clothing.
- Kangana Ranaut also commented on the controversy.
- Kangana said women have many fashion choices but questioned their suitability for particular occasions.
- The debate has raised wider questions about culture, clothing and personal freedom.
Kriti Sanon Responds to Trolls Over Raksha Bandhan Ad Outfit
Mumbai: Actress Kriti Sanon has responded to the online criticism surrounding her outfit in a recent Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying that a woman’s respect for her culture should.
The advertisement sparked a heated discussion on social media, with several users questioning whether Kriti’s outfit was appropriate for a campaign linked to the traditional Indian festival. The debate quickly moved beyond the advertisement itself, with people discussing clothing, culture, traditions and the expectations placed on women.
Kriti has now addressed the criticism directly. In a post on the photo-sharing platform, she explained what Raksha Bandhan means to her and her family.
She explained that Raksha Bandhan, for her, represents a bond of protection rather than a particular style of clothing. Kriti shared that she and her sister tie rakhi to each other because they believe they can protect and support one another just as strongly as a brother would.
She also spoke about the prayers traditionally associated with the festival.
“We pray for each other’s health, happiness & long life,” she said, adding that the same love and prayers extend to the dogs in their family because, as she put it, “they are family.”
For Kriti, the festival is therefore rooted in affection, responsibility and family bonds. Her response suggested that these emotions matter more to her than whether a particular outfit fits someone else’s idea of traditional dressing.
The actress then turned her attention to the broader debate over women’s clothing. She questioned why women continue to face judgments about their cultural values based on their appearance.
Kriti argued that ethnic fashion has changed considerably over the years, yet women are still frequently judged on their clothing when questions of culture and tradition arise.
Her comments have added another dimension to the discussion, particularly around whether cultural identity should be connected to appearance or personal values.
Kangana Ranaut Takes a Dig
The controversy also drew a response from actress and politician Kangana Ranaut. On Monday, she appeared to take a jibe at Kriti while discussing the freedom women have today to choose different styles of clothing.
Kangana acknowledged that modern women have access to a wide variety of fashion choices, describing today’s woman as a “global woman.” She listed everything from cocktail dresses and lehenga cholis to jeans, saris, bikinis and salwar kameez.
However, she questioned whether every type of outfit was suitable for every occasion.
Kangana wrote.
Her remarks added a political and cultural angle to what had initially begun as a debate over a festival advertisement.
The exchange reflects a familiar argument in Indian public life: where should personal freedom end and social expectations begin? While some believe traditional festivals should be represented through conventional clothing, others argue that the meaning of a festival should not be reduced to an individual’s appearance.
For Kriti, Raksha Bandhan is ultimately about love, protection and family. Her response makes clear that she does not believe clothing should determine how sincerely a person connects with those traditions.