Kriti Sanon is opening up about the controversy surrounding her Raksha Bandhan jewellery advertisement. The actress recently addressed the backlash on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s talk show What Women Want Season 6. Looking back at the intense discussion around her outfit, Kriti made a sharp observation about how far the debate had gone. In the promo of the upcoming episode, Kriti told Kareena,
“I couldn’t believe when my choli had become like a 6 people panel discussion on prime-time news.”
Kareena appeared visibly shocked before responding, “I know.” Kriti then summed up what she believes women actually want.
“What women actually want is to not be judged and for people to actually mind their own business.”
The comments come weeks after the jewellery advertisement faced heavy criticism online and was eventually taken down amid the controversy.
Kriti Sanon On The Raksha Bandhan Ad Controversy
From a Rakhi Ad to a Political Debate: When Did Advertising Become a Battlefield for Culture, Identity and Ideology?
— Gaurav Virendra Agrawal (@GauravVirendraA) August 26, 2026
What started as a festive jewellery advertisement featuring Kriti Sanon has now moved far beyond advertising.@kritisanon @KanganaTeam @mayursejpal @ITC_SaurabhP… pic.twitter.com/N2aPlY0xQ0
The advertisement was released around Raksha Bandhan and featured Kriti in modern Indian ethnic wear. While the campaign was created around the festival, her outfit became the centre of the conversation.
The backlash went beyond social media. The controversy reportedly created stressful situations at some of the brand’s offline stores, eventually contributing to the advertisement being pulled down. However, Kriti and the makers stood by the purpose behind the campaign. For the actress, the criticism also raised a much larger question about how women are judged based on what they wear, particularly during festivals.
Her appearance on What Women Want Season 6 now gives her an opportunity to revisit the controversy with a lighter but pointed take. The line about her choli becoming a “6 people panel discussion on prime-time news” captures just how absurd she felt the conversation had become.
“Culture And Traditions Are In Her Heart, Not In Her Neckline”
Kriti had previously responded to the controversy after the advertisement attracted criticism. In her statement, she explained that festivals should not simply be reduced to questions about clothing. She 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 also explained what Raksha Bandhan means to her personally. According to Kriti, the festival represents a bond of protection, something she shares with her sister as well. She said,
“My sister and I tie rakhi to each other. We know we can protect each other no less than a brother would have. We pray for each other’s health, happiness & long life. And for us, this prayer and promise extends to our dogs too! Afterall, they are family!”
For Kriti, the meaning of the festival is therefore rooted in the relationship and promise behind the celebration rather than the clothes worn for it. She also questioned why women’s clothing continues to become a measure of their respect for culture. Kriti asked,
“Also, when will we stop telling women what to wear?? Ethnic fashion has evolved over the years, but still a woman’s respect for her culture is measured with just her clothes!! Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”
The statement became an important part of her response to the controversy, as she argued that traditions should be understood through their meaning rather than someone’s appearance.
Kriti Sanon On Selective Outrage
The actress also recently liked an Instagram post that criticised the way people react to women’s clothing. The post highlighted the contrast between the outrage generated by an actress’s outfit and the comparatively lower public reaction to serious issues such as sexual assault, domestic violence and dowry deaths. The post stated,
“The fact that rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and dowry deaths do not invoke as much outrage in this country as an actress showing cleavage in a festive ad says a lot about our priorities.”
Kriti’s decision to like the post was seen as her agreement with its message. It further stated,
“The problem isn’t a festive ad. The problem is selective outrage. A society’s values are revealed not only by what makes it angry, but also by what it learns to tolerate. Maybe it’s time we questioned our priorities—and directed our outrage where it truly belongs.”
Her latest comments on Kareena’s show now add another layer to the conversation. Rather than revisiting the controversy in a defensive manner, Kriti appears to be looking at it through the absurdity of how much attention was given to her outfit.
Kriti Sanon Joins Kareena Kapoor’s What Women Want Season 6
Kriti Sanon’s appearance is part of the sixth season of What Women Want, hosted by Kareena Kapoor Khan. The show brings Kareena into conversations with celebrities about different aspects of their personal and professional lives. Season 6 features several well-known names, including Mira Rajput, Guneet Monga, Bhavana Pandey, Maheep Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal and Tahira Kashyap, among others.
Kriti’s episode is particularly interesting because the conversation allows her to revisit a controversy that became much bigger than the advertisement itself. Her exchange with Kareena also fits into the larger theme of the show, which focuses on women’s perspectives, experiences and the issues that affect them.
Kriti’s Message Goes Beyond One Advertisement
The Raksha Bandhan advertisement may have started the conversation, but Kriti’s comments point towards something broader. For her, the issue is not whether people are allowed to have opinions about advertising or fashion. It is about how quickly a woman’s clothing can become the centre of a much larger moral debate.
Her earlier statement focused on the meaning of Raksha Bandhan and the freedom to dress according to changing fashion. Her latest appearance adds humour to that argument.
“I couldn’t believe when my choli had become like a 6 people panel discussion on prime-time news,” she told Kareena. And with that one line, Kriti summed up how disproportionate she felt the entire controversy had become.
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