Ex-Roadies judge Raghu Ram asks 'what's the problem' with Kriti's outfit in Rakhi ad

Amid the controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement, former Roadies judge Raghu Ram has questioned the criticism directed at the actor. Raghu shared a video asking why people were offended by Kriti’s clothes and, more broadly, why men believe they have the authority to decide what women should wear.Addressing the controversy, Raghu said he was unable to understand the outrage over the advertisement, pointing out that it simply showed a sister tying a rakhi to her brother.“Kriti Sanon ke rakhi ad ka panga aaya. Aur chala gaya shayad, ya chali jaayegi. Koi nayi cheez aa jaayegi jisse humein thes pahunch jaayegi. Magar do sawaal hain mere, jinke baare mein main aap se baat karna chahta hoon comments mein (Kriti Sanon's Rakhi ad controversy came, and perhaps it has passed, or will pass. Something new will come along that will hurt us again. But I have two questions that I want to discuss with you in the comments),” he said.He continued, “Do problems hain mere - ladkiyon ke kam kapde pehne se kyun problem hai aur kya hai? Yeh mat bolna ki ladkiyon ke rape aur molestation hote hain baad mein, yeh mat bolna. Yeh bahut hi ghatiya, unacceptable soch aur criminal mindset hai. (I have two problems. Why is there an issue with women wearing fewer clothes, and what exactly is the problem? Don't say it's because women get raped or molested afterwards. Don't say that. That is a vile, unacceptable thought and a criminal mindset.)" He also questioned the idea that men have any special authority to dictate women’s clothing, referring to a controversial analogy previously used by a politician to justify policing women’s attire.“Ek politician ne bhi yeh justify kiya tha - ki agar tum mithai ka dabba khula chhod doge, makkhiyaan toh ghoomenge. Dusre aadmiyon ko aisa kya vardaan mila hai ki woh ladkiyon ko batayenge ki unko kya pehenna chahiye? ( A politician even tried to justify it — saying that if you leave a box of sweets open, flies will gather. What special privilege do men have that they think they can dictate what women should wear? )These are my two questions,” Raghu said.About the controversy The controversy erupted after jewellery brand GIVA released a Raksha Bandhan advertisement featuring Kriti Sanon. In the campaign, Kriti was seen celebrating the festival with her brother and tying a rakhi to their pet dog. She wore an Indo-Western ensemble featuring a bralette-style blouse, a cape, and a draped skirt.While the advertisement aimed to offer a contemporary take on Raksha Bandhan, some social media users criticised Kriti’s outfit, calling it inappropriate for a festival traditionally associated with family and cultural traditions. Kangana Ranaut also reacted to the advertisement, taking a dig at Kriti’s choice of attire.Kriti later responded to the backlash, defending both the campaign and her choice of clothing. She argued that the essence of festivals lies in the emotions and traditions associated with them, rather than in what a woman wears.Brand reacts to controversyFollowing the backlash, GIVA removed the Raksha Bandhan advertisement.The brand’s founder, Ishendra Agarwal, later addressed the decision to pull the campaign in a clarification shared on Instagram. He said the brand had noticed a perception that it had distanced itself from the advertisement and its message after the backlash.Agarwal stressed that the brand’s belief in the campaign’s intent “remains unchanged”. He explained that the advertisement was created in collaboration with Kriti and was intended to present Raksha Bandhan as a celebration of family and togetherness.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 16:21 IST