MUMBAI — Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has taken a sharp jibe at fellow actor Kriti Sanon over her wardrobe choice in a recently released Raksha Bandhan commercial. The controversy centers around a festive campaign for jewelry brand GIVA, in which Sanon is seen wearing a modern Indo-Western ensemble featuring an ivory bralette-style blouse, a flowing cape, and a draped skirt.
The advertisement, intended to highlight a modern spin on the traditional brother-sister festival, quickly drew fire across social media platforms for its choice of wardrobe. Joining the online critique, Ranaut expressed her dissatisfaction through an Instagram Story, questioning the suitability of such attire for a sacred Indian occasion.
"It's a wonderful time to be a woman. Our closets are full of a variety of clothes; today's woman is a global woman," Ranaut wrote in her post. "From cocktail dresses to lehenga cholis, jeans to saris, bikinis to salwar kameez—from all the options that are available to us today, why would you tie your brother a rakhi in your bikini or undergarments? Where are all your styling options? Ha ha, the advert looks intentionally creepy!"
Ranaut’s comments echo a broader wave of online backlash targeting the commercial. Several social media users criticized the campaign for leaving out traditional festival elements like the puja thali, tilak, and traditional festive attire, arguing that the modern look detached the campaign from the cultural significance of Raksha Bandhan.
Neither Kriti Sanon nor the jewelry brand GIVA has issued an official statement in response to the ongoing social media reaction or Ranaut's comments.
