New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has publicly defended Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon after she faced severe online trolling regarding her choice of attire in a recent Raksha Bandhan advertisement. The Congress leader’s intervention on Tuesday added a prominent political voice to a growing debate over women’s clothing, cultural traditions, and freedom of choice.
The controversy erupted following the release of a festive commercial for a jewellery brand. In the advertisement, Sanon is seen tying a rakhi while wearing an ivory Indo-Western outfit that features a modern bralette-style blouse, a cape, and a draped skirt. The wardrobe choice quickly drew the ire of several social media users who deemed it “inappropriate” for a traditional festival.
The backlash escalated when actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut publicly criticised the styling. In a social media post, Ranaut questioned the attire, stating, “From all the options that are available to us today why would you tie your brother a rakhi in your bikini/undergarments? Where are all your styling options? Ha ha the advert looks intentionally creepy!”
Pushing back against the intense scrutiny, Sanon took to her Instagram Stories to address the double standards surrounding women’s fashion. “The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear, it is in the emotions and meaning you hold for the traditions,” she wrote. Questioning the constant policing of women’s wardrobes, the actor added, “Ethnic fashion has evolved over the years, but still a woman’s respect for her culture is measured with just her clothes!! Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”
Stepping into the row, Rahul Gandhi shared Sanon’s statement on his own Instagram account, firmly backing the actor’s stance against the online mob. “What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes – is her choice,” Gandhi wrote. “Stop trolling women for exercising their freedom.” He concluded his message with the hashtag “#SmashThePatriarchy.”
Gandhi’s support aligns with his recent public statements regarding women’s autonomy. In a previous address, the Congress leader strongly criticised patriarchal mindsets that attempt to keep women dependent, famously condemning what he described as a restrictive “Manusmriti mindset.”
As the debate continues to unfold online, the incident has sparked a wider conversation across India about the intersection of modern fashion, traditional values, and the persistent policing of women in the public eye.