Kangana Ranaut has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon's Raksha Bandhan advertisement, saying the issue was not the actress's outfit but the ad's failure to follow the festival's traditional rules. The Indian Express reported her comments on Thursday.
According to The Indian Express, Ranaut clarified that the problem lay in how the advertisement approached Raksha Bandhan customs, rather than in what Sanon wore. Her remarks add to a growing public debate over the ad, which has drawn criticism from several quarters since it aired.
The controversy has sparked wider discussion across Indian media. NDTV noted that internet users have begun comparing the National Award looks of both Sanon and Ranaut in the wake of the ad row. Meanwhile, The Times of India reported that Priyanka Chopra's mother, Madhu Chopra, also commented on the matter, saying that while "my body, my choice" is acceptable, there must be a boundary, adding that even her children wear such outfits but context matters.
Telegraph India published letters from readers criticizing the backlash, describing the row as exposing a "warped mindset." In a separate development, India Today reported that actor Kunickaa Sadanand took a dig at Ranaut's own outfit as an old advertisement of hers resurfaced online during the Rakhi season.
The debate has moved beyond the original ad itself, with commentators and celebrities now examining double standards in how male and female actors are judged on festival-related content. The conversation shows no signs of slowing down as more public figures share their views on where tradition and personal choice should meet.
Observers will be watching whether Sanon or the brand behind the advertisement issues a formal response to the criticism.
