Why are female actors still asked about their clothes? Kareena Kapoor exposes the double standard

Highlights

• Kareena Kapoor was asked about her personal boundaries around on-screen clothing.
• The question came amid the backlash over Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement.
• Kareena appeared hesitant to answer before Meghna Gulzar stepped in.
• Meghna called it unfair to ask this question of one actor.

Kareena Kapoor was put on the spot with a question about what she would and would not wear on screen. The question came during the trailer launch of Daayra, where the conversation had turned to the criticism faced by female actors over their clothing choices.

Kareena appeared reluctant to answer. Meghna Gulzar then stepped in, questioning why the responsibility of answering such a question should fall on one actor.

The question Kareena was asked

The question was about whether Kareena has a personal “boundary” when it comes to what she wears on screen.

It came in the wake of the controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement. Kriti had faced criticism online over the outfit she wore in the GIVA campaign, with some users arguing that it was inappropriate for the festival.

Rather than giving a direct answer about her own clothing choices, Kareena appeared hesitant.

Meghna responded by pointing out that clothing in a film depends on the character and the director’s vision.

“It is unfair to ask this to one actor,” she said.

Why the question stands out

The exchange raises a familiar question about how female actors are often expected to explain or defend what they wear on screen.

Kareena was asked to define her personal limits while sitting alongside Daayra co-star Prithviraj Sukumaran. The reported question was directed specifically at Kareena rather than being posed as a general question to the actors on the panel.

That distinction is what makes the moment notable. The issue was not simply what Kareena would choose to wear, but why the responsibility to answer for on-screen clothing was placed on her in the first place.

Meghna’s response brought that tension into focus, suggesting that such decisions should instead be understood through the character, the film and the director’s creative vision.

The controversy behind the question

The discussion comes after GIVA’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement featuring Kriti was pulled following online backlash.

The campaign showed Kriti celebrating Raksha Bandhan with her brother and tying a rakhi to their pet dog. She wore an Indo-Western outfit featuring a bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt.

Critics questioned the choice of outfit for a festival associated with family and tradition. Kriti later defended the campaign’s message, arguing that the meaning of festivals comes from the emotions and traditions behind them.

The brand’s founder, Ishendra Agarwal, also clarified that GIVA had not backed away from the campaign’s underlying message.

The controversy has now prompted another conversation, this time about why female actors are so often asked to account for their clothing choices when questions about a character’s appearance could be viewed as part of the wider filmmaking process.