Kangana Ranaut’s criticism of Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement sparked a fresh debate online after social-media users resurfaced an older festive campaign featuring Kangana herself.
The old advertisement, shared by Kangana in 2017, showed her wearing a strapless outfit. After images from the campaign began circulating again, some users questioned whether her criticism of Kriti’s attire was consistent with her own earlier fashion choices.
Kangana’s Old Raksha Bandhan Campaign Comes Back Into Focus
Kangana had shared the Raksha Bandhan advertisement on X in 2017. In the campaign, she appeared in a strapless dress as part of the festive promotion.
Following her comments about Kriti Sanon’s more recent Raksha Bandhan campaign, users brought the older advertisement back into the conversation.
One user questioned Kangana’s outfit in the old campaign, while another compared the two advertisements and questioned why different standards appeared to be applied to their respective fashion choices.
Some social-media users went further and accused Kangana of hypocrisy.
However, these reactions represent individual opinions expressed online and do not independently establish that Kangana’s views were contradictory.
Why Kangana Criticised Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan Ad
The controversy began after jewellery brand GIVA released a Raksha Bandhan campaign featuring Kriti Sanon.
Kriti appeared in an off-white ensemble comprising a bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt. The advertisement quickly divided opinion, with some viewers arguing that the styling did not fit what they expected from a campaign associated with a traditional Indian festival.
Kangana also criticised the campaign, questioning why a more conventional festive outfit had not been chosen for a Raksha Bandhan advertisement.
Kangana Called the Advertisement ‘Creepy’
Responding to the campaign, Kangana wrote that modern women have access to a wide range of clothing styles, from Western outfits to traditional Indian attire.
She questioned the decision to portray a woman tying a Rakhi while dressed in what she described as a bikini or undergarments, and concluded that the advertisement looked “intentionally creepy.”
Her comments subsequently became part of the wider backlash against the campaign.
Kriti Sanon Defended the Campaign’s Message
Kriti later responded to the criticism and argued that a woman’s connection to Indian culture should not be judged solely by her clothing.
Her response shifted the conversation from fashion to the broader question of whether traditional values can be represented through contemporary styling.
The debate also highlighted differing expectations around how brands should portray festivals in advertisements featuring celebrities.
GIVA Eventually Withdrew the Advertisement
Amid the controversy, GIVA removed the Raksha Bandhan campaign from its platforms.
The jewellery brand subsequently stated that it has “the highest regard and deep respect for Indian culture, traditions and festivals.”
The withdrawal added another dimension to the debate, with social-media users continuing to discuss whether the criticism was justified or whether the advertisement was being judged too narrowly on its styling.
Kangana Later Clarified Her Position
Kangana subsequently clarified that her objection was not simply about Kriti’s clothes.
According to her later explanation, the larger issue was the absence of traditional elements that she expected to see in an advertisement centred on Raksha Bandhan.
That clarification became important because the controversy had increasingly been framed as a disagreement over whether a particular outfit was culturally appropriate.
Why the Old Kangana Ad Became Relevant
The resurfacing of Kangana’s 2017 advertisement gave social-media users an opportunity to compare the two campaigns.
Critics argued that Kangana had appeared in a strapless outfit in her own Raksha Bandhan campaign while objecting to Kriti’s styling years later. Supporters, meanwhile, could distinguish between the clothing worn in an advertisement and the broader creative concept, messaging and cultural presentation of a campaign.
The comparison ultimately became another example of how older celebrity content can resurface when public figures make controversial statements.
The Bottom Line
Kangana Ranaut’s criticism of Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement triggered a separate controversy when social-media users resurfaced Kangana’s own 2017 festive campaign featuring a strapless outfit.
While some users called the actor-politician a “hypocrite,” that characterisation reflects social-media reactions rather than an established fact. Kangana later said her criticism of Kriti’s campaign was about more than clothing, arguing that the advertisement lacked traditional elements associated with Raksha Bandhan.
The episode shows how quickly past celebrity endorsements can return to public discussion when current controversies invite comparisons.
