Highlights:
Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon has turned a months-old fashion controversy into a larger conversation about judgment, women’s clothing and who gets to decide what is “appropriate” for a festival.
The actor recently revisited the backlash surrounding her Raksha Bandhan advertisement for jewelry brand GIVA while appearing on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s What Women Want Season 6. What began as a festive advertising campaign became a social media storm, with Kriti facing criticism over her outfit.
Reflecting on the controversy, Kriti told Kareena, "I couldn't believe when my choli had become like a six-person panel discussion on prime-time news."
Kareena simply responded, "I know."
The exchange captures what made the controversy so unusual: an advertisement intended to celebrate Raksha Bandhan ended up generating a much bigger discussion about the actor’s clothes.
When a Choli Became the Controversy
In the GIVA campaign, Kriti was shown celebrating Raksha Bandhan while wearing a bralette-style blouse with a cape and a draped skirt. The outfit drew criticism from some social media users, who argued that the look was inappropriate for a festival traditionally associated with the bond between siblings.
The criticism went beyond ordinary fashion commentary. Actress Kangana Ranaut also took aim at the campaign, asking, "Why would you tie a rakhi to your brother while wearing a bikini or undergarments?"
Kangana described the campaign as "intentionally creepy".
Kriti responded directly, questioning why another woman's clothing had become such a source of concern.
"Imagine being this bothered by what another woman chooses to wear. Respectfully, evolve. PS: I'm the one who tied the rakhi, and if I don't have a problem with it, why do you? The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear; it is in the emotions and meaning you attach to the traditions."
Kriti’s Answer to the Critics
Rather than allowing the controversy to define her, Kriti appeared to turn the conversation back toward the larger issue of judgment.
On Raksha Bandhan, she shared a photograph with her younger sister Nupur Sanon, showing the sisters holding hands with rakhis tied around each other's wrists.
Her caption was a pointed response to the debate surrounding her appearance.
"While the Rakhi fashion committee is still in session. We're focusing on what really matters. Happy Rakhi to all."
Months later, her appearance on What Women Want gave her another opportunity to address the episode, this time with humor.
What Do Women Want?
At the end of the trailer, Kareena asked Kriti what women want.
Her answer was short but directly connected to the controversy.
"To not be judged, and people should mind their own business."
That response gives the episode a larger takeaway. The debate was never simply about a blouse or a festival outfit. It became another example of how quickly conversations around women can shift from what they do to what they wear.
For Kriti, the controversy may have started with a choli, but it ultimately became a conversation about autonomy, tradition and the expectations placed on women in public life.
And as she joked, apparently even a choli can become prime-time news.
