Nupur Sanon defends sister Kriti after Kangana's criticism of Raksha Bandhan ad

Actor Nupur Sanon has responded to actor-politician Kangana Ranaut’s criticism of her sister Kriti Sanon's controversial Raksha Bandhan advertisement, addressing Kangana's remark about "tying a rakhi in a bikini."Nupur shared Kriti's Instagram story on her handle and wrote, "Imagine being this bothered by what another woman chooses to wear. Respectfully, evolve. PS: I'm the one she tied the rakhi to, and if I don't have a problem with it, why do you (sic)?"Earlier, Kriti shared a lengthy note, writing, "Imagine being this bothered by what another woman chooses to wear. Respectfully, evolve. PS: I'm the one she tied the rakhi to, and if I don't have a problem with it, why do you? The essence of festivals is not in the clothes you wear; it is in the emotions and meaning you attach to the traditions (sic)."She added, "Raksha Bandhan is a bond of protection. My sister and I tie rakhi to each other. We know we can protect each other just as much as a brother would. We pray for each other's health, happiness and long life. For us, this prayer and promise extend to our dogs too. After all, they are family (sic)!" "Also, when will we stop telling women what to wear? Ethnic fashion has evolved over the years, yet a woman's respect for her culture is still measured by her clothes. Culture and traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline (sic)," the Cocktail 2 actor concluded.On Monday evening, Kangana joined the online criticism surrounding Kriti's viral Raksha Bandhan ad, taking aim at the actor's attire. Dismissing the commercial's concept as "intentionally creepy," Kangana questioned the choice to tie a rakhi dressed in a bikini or undergarments.The controversy stems from a Raksha Bandhan ad campaign where Kriti sports an ivory bralette-style blouse with a draped skirt and cape shrug. Though intended to offer a modern take on the celebration, the styling divided social media, with critics calling into question the suitability of the outfit for a traditional festival.An X user wrote, "Kriti sanon wearing a bra while tying a rakhi to her brother in a new jewellery Ad by GIVA. You won't see them making fun of either Eid or Christmas (sic)."Another X user questioned blamed the campaign for running "woke" agenda and wrote, "What nonsense is this...Inko Hindu festivals hi milte hain apna WOKE agenda chalane? Here, Kriti Sanon is “celebrating” #RakshaBandhan wearing this skimpy outfit (perhaps left over from Cocktail 2) Kriti is not just a brand ambassador, but also a strategic investor so she would have a say in the concept & clothes (sic).""I challenge GIVA to make an E!D ad with such a skimpily dressed model...They won’t...STSJ se darte hain (they are scared of STSJ)...They think Hindus ki aastha ko hum hurt kar sakte hain (They think they can hurt Hindu beliefs) (sic)," the post concluded.An X post also read, "Miss. @kritisanon...Do you really wear a bralette on #RakshaBandhan ? Oh wait sorry! You don’t have any brothers, right? How would you even know what this festival truly means? Out of curiosity! Would you ever do the same Bralette ad for Ramzan /Christmas? #GIVA #BoycottGIVA (sic)."Meanwhile, Kriti's last theatrical release was director Homi Adajania's Cocktail 2, featuring actors Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna in key roles. She was also seen in a cameo appearance in actor Varun Dhawan's Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai (2026).- EndsPublished By: Anurag BohraPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 19:42 IST