Cinema VinesIn a recent turn of events, Bollywood actress and BJP MP Kangana Rana Rana has clarified her stance on the controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s 36‑second Raksha Bandhan advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA. The ad, released on August 24, featured Sanon in an ivory bralette‑style blouse, a cape and a draped skirt, tying a rakhi to her brother and even her pet dog, a move that sparked online debate over the portrayal of the festival and the outfit’s appropriateness.
Rana Rana first voiced her discontent on Instagram Stories, questioning the choice of Sanon’s attire for a traditionally festive occasion. She later elaborated on the show‑time platform Decode Live, stating that her criticism was not about policing women’s fashion choices. “A woman can wear whatever she wants on Raksha Bandhan,” she said, adding that the bralette was a minor detail compared to the ad’s omission of key cultural elements.
She highlighted the absence of traditional symbols such as halwa‑puri, a deity, tilak, akshat, incense and a diya, arguing that without these rituals the depiction of Raksha Bandhan feels incomplete. “It won’t work without the teeka; Rakhi won’t work,” Rana Rana remarked, emphasizing that the festival is a “religious expression of a civilisation.”
When asked about the possibility of Kriti Sanon wearing a similar outfit for an Eid advertisement, Rana Rana shifted focus to the broader representation of relationships within Hindu culture, noting that Hindu traditions emphasize dignity and boundaries in various relationships.
Rana Rana’s comments have reignited discussions about cultural representation in advertising and the balance between contemporary fashion and traditional symbolism. The GIVA campaign, which also aimed to highlight that pets are family, now faces scrutiny for its perceived deviation from conventional Raksha Bandhan rituals.
