Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has opened up about the controversy surrounding her Raksha Bandhan advertisement while speaking with Kareena Kapoor Khan on the upcoming season of What Women Want. The discussion brought attention back to an advertising controversy that generated considerable debate on social media and television earlier this year.
In a promotional video for What Women Want Season 6, Kriti recalled how the outfit she wore in the advertisement became the centre of a prime time television discussion. Speaking to Kareena Kapoor Khan, she said she could not believe that her choli had become the subject of a six person panel discussion on prime time news. Kareena responded that she was aware of the situation.
The controversy began after jewellery brand GIVA released a Raksha Bandhan campaign featuring Kriti. In the advertisement, the actress was shown celebrating the festival while wearing an Indo Western outfit. The campaign also featured her tying a Rakhi to her brother and including her pet dog in the celebration.
The advertisement received mixed reactions on social media. A section of users criticised Kriti’s outfit and questioned whether the styling was appropriate for a traditional festival. Some reactions also focused on the decision to include a pet in the Raksha Bandhan campaign.
The discussion subsequently moved beyond the advertisement itself and became part of a broader conversation about clothing, culture, tradition and the way women are judged in public spaces. The controversy eventually led GIVA to withdraw the advertisement from its media platforms. The company said that it respected Indian culture, traditions and festivals and apologised if the advertisement had unintentionally hurt the sentiments of any section of society.
Kriti later responded to the criticism through social media. She argued that the meaning of a festival should not be determined only by the clothes worn by an individual. She also questioned the continued practice of judging women based on their clothing choices.
In her response, Kriti said that traditions and culture are connected to the emotions and values people associate with them. She also explained that she and her sister exchange Rakhis and consider their pets to be part of their family. Her comments added another dimension to the discussion, shifting the focus from the advertisement to wider questions about personal choice and social expectations.
The issue received further attention when several public figures reacted to the advertisement controversy. The debate eventually became a larger discussion about how fashion and cultural representation are interpreted in advertising.
Kriti’s latest comments came during her conversation with Kareena Kapoor Khan. The What Women Want programme is known for conversations with actors and personalities about issues involving women, relationships, popular culture and personal experiences. The new season features several guests from the entertainment industry.
The actress’s reference to the television panel discussion highlights how quickly an advertising campaign can become a larger public debate in the age of social media. A fashion choice made for a commercial can attract reactions from audiences, news programmes and public figures within a short period.
The controversy also demonstrates the changing nature of advertising around Indian festivals. Brands increasingly use contemporary fashion, modern relationships and different representations of family life in festive campaigns. At the same time, such campaigns can face criticism when viewers feel that the presentation does not match their understanding of traditional celebrations.
In Kriti’s case, the focus of the debate was particularly connected to her outfit. The actress has maintained that a woman’s respect for culture should not be determined simply by her neckline or clothing. Her comments became part of a broader conversation about fashion, personal expression and cultural expectations.
The advertisement itself is no longer available after GIVA withdrew it following the backlash. However, the controversy continued to be discussed because of the questions it raised about how women in the public eye are judged for their appearance.
Kriti’s appearance on What Women Want now gives her an opportunity to reflect on the incident with a degree of distance. Rather than discussing only the advertisement, her comments draw attention to the unexpected scale of the reaction and the way her clothing became a topic of televised debate.
For viewers familiar with the controversy, her latest comments provide additional context about how the actress experienced the situation. Her statement that her choli became the subject of a six person panel discussion underlines the extent to which the debate moved beyond the original commercial.
The episode also comes at a time when discussions about celebrity fashion frequently extend beyond entertainment platforms. Social media has made it possible for audiences to respond immediately to advertisements, films, photographs and public appearances. At the same time, those reactions can quickly move into television discussions and wider public debates.
Kriti’s experience shows how a celebrity’s appearance can become the central focus of a much larger conversation. The actress has used the opportunity to question the practice of judging women based on their clothing while also explaining her own understanding of festivals and family relationships.
The Raksha Bandhan advertisement controversy therefore remains an example of the challenges brands and celebrities can face when combining traditional festivals with contemporary fashion and advertising concepts. While GIVA ultimately removed the campaign, Kriti’s later comments have kept the discussion alive.
Her conversation with Kareena Kapoor Khan adds another chapter to the episode, with Kriti reflecting on the unexpected attention surrounding her outfit. The discussion also places the controversy within the larger theme of What Women Want, where questions about judgment, personal choice and social expectations frequently form part of conversations with guests.
Ultimately, the incident was not limited to a single advertisement or an outfit. It became a wider discussion about cultural traditions, advertising, women's clothing and public judgment. Kriti’s latest remarks show that the controversy continues to be a subject of reflection for the actress, even after the original campaign was withdrawn.
