# Kriti Sanon hits back at Raksha Bandhan ad outfit critics 2026-08-25T12:26:22+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 5 independent outlets Kriti Sanon has responded to backlash over her outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA, saying the essence of festivals lies in emotions, not clothing. The actor was seen in an off-white bralette-style blouse with a cape and draped skirt, which some social media users called inappropriate for a traditional festival. In an Instagram post, Sanon wrote: 'The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions.' She added that she and her sister tie rakhi to each other, and that their prayer extends to their dogs. She questioned: 'When will we stop telling women what to wear?' BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut criticised the ad, asking why Sanon would wear what she called a 'bikini/undergarments' for the occasion. Sanon did not name Ranaut in her response. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Most outlets reported Sanon's rebuttal neutrally, while Hindustan Times and ABP Live led with the backlash and Kangana Ranaut's criticism, framing the controversy as a clash of cultural values. The Times of India gave equal weight to Sanon's defence and Ranaut's jab. Sanon's argument, that culture is in the heart, not the neckline, anchored coverage across sources, but Ranaut's 'bikini' remark amplified the moral policing angle Sanon opposed. The ad also drew criticism for showing Sanon tying a rakhi to a dog, which Bollywood Hungama noted added to the debate. ## Coverage Coverage: 5 sources, 5 neutral - news.abplive.com (neutral report) Led with Sanon's response and Ranaut's criticism without editorialising - siasat.com (neutral report) Straight news agency style reporting of both sides - bollywoodhungama.com (neutral report) Focused on Sanon's rebuttal and Ranaut's jibe without slant - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Balanced coverage of Sanon's statement and controversy details - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Reported backlash and Ranaut's comment alongside Sanon's defence This story was synthesised by AI from the 5 sources linked above. Updated: this story now draws on 5 sources. Last updated 2026-08-25T12:42:28+00:00. Tags: Instagram, Kangana Ranaut, Kriti Sanon, Raksha Bandhan Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kriti-sanon-hits-back-at-outfit-criticism-in-raksha-bandhan-ad/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kriti-sanon-hits-back-at-outfit-criticism-in-raksha-bandhan-ad/#story-in-brief 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/