During the trailer launch of her upcoming film Daayra, Kareena Kapoor Khan sidestepped a question regarding the recent controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s outfit in a jewellery brand’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement. As Kareena hesitated, filmmaker Meghna Gulzar stepped in to field the question, defending actors against moral scrutiny over costume choices.
Key Highlights of the Controversy and Response
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Meghna Gulzar’s Stance: The filmmaker asserted that an actor’s wardrobe is entirely dependent on the specific character and the director’s vision, calling it unfair to target individual actors for creative choices.
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The GIVA Ad Controversy: The debate erupted after jewellery brand GIVA released a campaign featuring Kriti Sanon celebrating Raksha Bandhan in a contemporary Indo-Western outfit and tying a rakhi to a pet dog.
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Backlash and Defense: While critics—including actor Kangana Ranaut—slammed the choice of attire as inappropriate for a traditional festival, Kriti hit back at the scrutiny, stating that a woman’s respect for her culture shouldn’t be judged by her neckline and emphasizing that family protection extends to pets.
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Brand’s Decision: Although GIVA initially pulled the commercial due to safety concerns and escalating tensions at physical storefronts that put on-ground employees at risk, founder Ishendra Agarwal clarified that the company’s belief in the campaign’s core message of family and togetherness remains unchanged.
