Hina Khan has shared her perspective on the controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying actors have the choice to walk away from a campaign if they feel its creative direction could lead to backlash.
Kriti recently faced criticism after appearing in a jewellery brand’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement. A section of social media users objected to the styling and felt her outfit was inappropriate for the festival.
The campaign was subsequently removed by the brand following the online backlash.
Now, Hina has weighed in on the controversy during an episode of ** The4POV **, where she discussed the issue with her husband Rocky Jaiswal and fellow actors Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla.
Hina Khan Says Actors Can Choose to Opt Out
Discussing the controversy, Hina pointed out that brands sometimes have a very specific creative vision for their advertising campaigns.
She said actors can decide whether they are comfortable associating themselves with that vision.
“Sometimes, some brands are very adamant on a certain sort of their creative. They want to do it their way. As an actor, you always have the option of opting out, considering that it may backfire,” Hina said.
She added that the controversy may not necessarily have been anticipated by either the actor or the brand.
“Maybe it was not well thought or maybe they thought it may not become what it became,” she said.
Her comments therefore acknowledged the responsibility an actor can have when accepting commercial work, while also recognising that the eventual public reaction can be difficult to predict.
‘No One Deserves So Much’
While Hina believes actors can make the decision to decline an advertisement, she was equally clear that she did not think Kriti deserved the level of criticism that followed.
According to Hina, an advertising decision can become disproportionately large once it starts circulating on social media.
“The level at which… what happened and what is happening, no one deserves so much,” she said.
She further explained that people may make a decision without anticipating how it will be received, but online criticism can continue long after the original controversy has passed.
“Ek cheez hogayi, aapne itna socha nahi and it happened. But then people don’t let it go. It becomes big and very big,” she said.
Hina Says She Doesn’t Blame Kriti or the Brand
Hina also clarified that she was not placing the blame entirely on either Kriti or the jewellery brand.
According to her, a brand has its own creative viewpoint, while an actor also has the right to make personal choices about clothing and presentation.
She explained that if someone asks her about her own opinion, she would give it, but she still believes actors have the ability to refuse projects.
Her position essentially draws a line between having a professional choice and becoming the target of sustained online hostility.
What Triggered Kriti Sanon’s Rakhi Ad Controversy?
The controversy began after Kriti appeared in a jewellery advertisement released around Raksha Bandhan.
The campaign attracted criticism online, particularly over the actress’s styling and outfit.
Some social media users argued that the presentation did not align with their expectations of how women should dress for the festival.
The discussion quickly moved beyond the advertisement itself, with Kriti becoming the focus of a wider social media debate.
Following the backlash, the brand removed the advertisement.
The episode once again highlighted the challenges celebrities and brands face when creating festive advertising campaigns for audiences with diverse cultural expectations.
The Debate Around Celebrity Endorsements
Celebrity advertising frequently places actors at the intersection of brand messaging and public expectations.
An actor may be hired to represent a particular product or campaign, but audiences can also associate the celebrity personally with the advertisement’s creative choices.
That can make controversies involving fashion, cultural representation or festival-related campaigns particularly intense.
Hina’s comments bring another dimension to that conversation: while celebrities can exercise professional judgment before participating in a campaign, the consequences of an unexpected backlash can extend well beyond the original advertisement.
Hina Khan’s Career in Television
Hina Khan remains one of the most recognisable faces in Indian television.
She rose to prominence playing Akshara in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, a role that established her as a household name.
After leaving the show, Hina explored reality television and other acting projects.
She participated in ** Bigg Boss 11 ** and ** Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 **, while also appearing as the lead antagonist in ** Naagin 5 **.
Her television career has since expanded into digital projects and other entertainment formats.
Hina Khan and Rocky Jaiswal
Hina’s husband Rocky Jaiswal has also been closely associated with her professional journey.
The couple have appeared together in television and reality-based projects, including ** Pati Patni Aur Panga **.
Their conversations about entertainment and celebrity life have also occasionally offered audiences a glimpse into how actors navigate the public nature of their careers.
Hina’s Recent Television Appearance
More recently, Hina made a special appearance in ** Lock Upp Season 2 **, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan.
Her continued presence across television and reality formats has allowed her to remain connected with audiences even as she explores different kinds of projects.
Her latest comments on the Kriti Sanon controversy add another layer to her public persona as an actor who is willing to discuss the practical realities of working with brands and navigating social media reactions.
Hina Khan’s Message: Choice and Proportion Matter
Hina’s response to the controversy does not amount to a complete defence of every creative decision made in the advertisement.
Instead, she appears to be making two points simultaneously: actors should consider the consequences of the projects they accept, but public criticism should also have reasonable limits.
For Kriti, the Raksha Bandhan advertisement became an unexpected controversy after its release. For Hina, the episode is also an example of how quickly a single creative decision can grow into a much larger social media storm.
