Now Reading: GIVA pulls Kriti Sanon Rakhi ad after Kangana Ranaut criticism
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GIVA pulls Kriti Sanon Rakhi ad after Kangana Ranaut criticism
Jewellery brand GIVA has withdrawn its Raksha Bandhan advertisement featuring Kriti Sanon after online backlash over her outfit. The ad showed Sanon in a bralette-style blouse tying a rakhi to her brother and pet dog. The company said it had 'inadvertently hurt the sentiments of some segments of society' and removed the ad from all media.
Sanon defended the campaign, saying the essence of festivals is not in clothes but in emotions. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi supported her, writing 'What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes is her choice.' Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut called the styling 'intentionally creepy' and said personal freedom should have boundaries. GIVA replaced the ad with two new versions featuring Indian festive attire.
Indian Opinion Analysis
National Herald frames the story around Sanon's defence and Gandhi's support, leading with the withdrawal and then foregrounding Sanon's statement that 'Culture and traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline.' Cinema Express leads with the backlash and includes Ranaut's full criticism, calling the ad 'controversial' in its headline. Both report the brand's apology verbatim. The key difference is emphasis: National Herald centres the debate over women's autonomy, while Cinema Express gives equal space to Ranaut's objection. Neither outlet addresses how the ad's inclusion of a dog may have amplified the reaction beyond the outfit issue.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): nationalheraldindia.com (neutral report), cinemaexpress.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
