# Kriti Sanon faces backlash over GIVA Raksha Bandhan ad

2026-08-22T16:56:06+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon is facing criticism online for her appearance in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement by jewellery brand GIVA. M9.News reports that several viewers expressed disappointment over the portrayal of the festival, questioning creative choices such as the absence of traditional elements like tilak and aarti, and Kriti Sanon's outfit, which some called 'skimpy' and not aligned with traditional spirit. The inclusion of a pet dog receiving a Rakhi also became a major talking point, with some appreciating the emotional bond while others felt it changed the traditional focus on siblings. Greatandhra.com reports that the ad shows Kriti in a traditional outfit with an off-white bralette-style blouse and draped skirt, which some users called unsuitable for Raksha Bandhan. The criticism grew online, with some users calling the advertisement shameful and inappropriate, questioning both Kriti's fashion choice and the brand's creative decision. Kriti has not publicly responded so far. The debate has sparked a wider conversation about how brands balance cultural traditions with modern storytelling in festive campaigns.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both sources frame the story around social media backlash, but with different emphasis. M9.News leads with a sensationalist headline 'Kriti Hurts Hindu Sentiments in Sexy Dress?' and amplifies outrage by quoting tweets calling the outfit 'skimpy' and accusing the ad of giving the dog 'more importance than her brother.' Greatandhra.com uses a more descriptive headline and notes that these comments 'reflect some social media users' views,' tempering the controversy. The measured read: the ad generated genuine debate about tradition versus modern advertising, but the level of outrage is confined to online platforms and does not represent a broader public verdict. Watch for whether Kriti or GIVA issues a statement.

## Coverage

Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
- m9.news (sensationalist) <https://www.m9.news/bollywood/kriti-sanon-giva-raksha-bandhan-ad-backlash/>
  Leads with 'Hurts Hindu Sentiments' and quotes outrage tweets, framing drama over substance
- greatandhra.com (neutral report) <https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/movie-news/actress-in-bra-for-raksha-bandhan-ad/>
  Describes backlash as 'some social media users' views' without amplifying outrage

This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-24T05:33:18+00:00.

Tags: Bollywood, GIVA, Kriti Sanon, Raksha Bandhan
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How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/