‘Culture Is in the Heart’: Kriti Sanon Responds to Raksha Bandhan Ad Controversy

Actress Kriti Sanon has responded to the criticism surrounding her recent Raksha Bandhan jewellery advertisement. The controversy began after actor-politician Kangana Ranaut questioned Kriti’s outfit in the campaign, leading to a wider discussion on social media.

Kriti addressed the issue through a detailed note shared on her Instagram Story. While she did not mention Kangana by name, her comments were widely viewed as a response to the criticism directed at her outfit in the advertisement.

In her message, Kriti said that the significance of a festival should not be judged by a woman’s clothing. According to her, culture and traditions are rooted in emotions, relationships and personal beliefs rather than outward appearance.

She concluded her message with the statement: “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”

What Did Kriti Sanon Say in Her Post?

Speaking about the significance of Raksha Bandhan, Kriti said that the true spirit of a festival is not determined by what someone wears, but by the emotions and meaning they attach to the tradition and relationship.

She described Raksha Bandhan as a symbol of protection and mutual love, adding that she and her sister tie rakhi to each other. Both sisters believe that they can protect one another just as strongly as siblings traditionally support and protect each other.

Kriti also spoke about the importance of family and revealed that she and her sister pray for the health, happiness and long lives of their pet dogs as well.

She then questioned the continued scrutiny surrounding women’s clothing and asked when society would stop telling women what they should and should not wear.

Kriti pointed out that ethnic fashion has evolved significantly over the years, yet women are still often judged based on their clothes when it comes to their respect for culture and traditions.

She reiterated her message by writing: “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”

Why Did Kriti Sanon’s Advertisement Face Criticism?

The controversy started after Kangana Ranaut commented on Kriti’s Raksha Bandhan jewellery advertisement.

In the campaign, Kriti was seen wearing an off-white Indo-Western outfit featuring a bralette-style blouse, a matching cape and a draped skirt.

Kangana questioned the styling and pointed out that women today have a wide range of fashion choices available to them.

Without directly naming Kriti, Kangana referred to various clothing options available to women, including cocktail dresses, lehengas, jeans, saris, bikinis and salwar kameez.

She questioned why someone would choose to tie a Rakhi to their brother while wearing what she described as a bikini or underwear when there were several other styling options available.

Kangana also described the advertisement as “intentionally creepy”, which further intensified the discussion across social media.

Social Media Users Share Different Opinions

The advertisement received mixed reactions online. Some social media users criticised Kriti’s outfit and felt that the styling was inappropriate in the context of a traditional festival such as Raksha Bandhan.

Others argued that a person’s clothing should not be used to judge their culture, traditions or personal values.

Following Kriti’s response, the conversation expanded beyond the advertisement itself. The debate has increasingly focused on why women’s clothing is so often connected to assumptions about their cultural values and respect for traditions.

Kriti’s Views on Women, Clothing and Culture

The central message of Kriti’s statement is that culture and traditions are connected more closely to a person’s thoughts and emotions than to their external appearance.

Her response has also brought attention to the broader discussion surrounding women’s freedom to make their own clothing choices. Kriti questioned why women continue to face constant social scrutiny and criticism over what they wear.

Her comments suggest that celebrating a traditional festival does not necessarily require following a particular dress code. The emotional and familial significance of a festival can exist independently of someone’s clothing choices.

What Did Kangana Ranaut Say?

Kangana’s comments came after she saw Kriti’s jewellery advertisement.

While acknowledging the wide range of fashion choices available to women today, she questioned the particular outfit and styling used in the campaign.

Kangana’s statement prompted divided reactions on social media. Some users supported her perspective, while others accused her of unnecessarily commenting on and policing women’s clothing choices.

Kriti later shared her response through an Instagram Story. Although she did not directly name Kangana, the timing and content of her post led many people to interpret it as a response to the criticism surrounding the advertisement.

The Debate Has Gone Beyond the Advertisement

What began as a discussion about a Raksha Bandhan advertisement has now developed into a broader conversation about fashion, festivals, cultural traditions and social expectations surrounding women.

Some people believe traditional festivals should come with certain expectations regarding clothing and presentation. Others believe the meaning of a festival should be determined by the relationships and emotions associated with it rather than by a specific dress code.

Kriti Sanon’s response reflects the latter viewpoint. Through her statement, “Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”, she has attempted to emphasise that a woman’s connection to her culture and traditions cannot be determined solely by what she wears.

The Raksha Bandhan advertisement continues to generate discussion on social media, but Kriti has made her position clear: a woman’s clothing should not be treated as the sole measure of her respect for culture or traditions.