It’s Her Choice

Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan ad row has taken a political turn, with Rahul Gandhi stepping in to defend the actor amid a storm over her outfit. What began as a festive jewellery campaign quickly turned into a social media firestorm after Kriti appeared in an Indo-Western ensemble featuring a bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt.

Critics questioned whether the look was appropriate for a festival steeped in family and tradition. But Kriti hit back, arguing that women should not be judged, or controlled, by what they choose to wear. That argument caught Rahul Gandhi’s attention.

Sharing Kriti’s response on Instagram Stories, the Congress leader wrote: “What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes — is her choice.” He followed it with an even sharper message: “Stop trolling women for exercising their freedom.” Gandhi also added the hashtag #SmashThePatriarchy. And just like that, a fashion controversy became a political talking point.

Gandhi’s intervention has widened the debate from one celebrity advertisement to a familiar battleground: women’s freedom, cultural expectations and the relentless scrutiny of what women wear.