Kriti Sanon’s new GIVA Raksha Bandhan ad has triggered a fierce online debate after she ties rakhi to both her brother and her pet dog while wearing a bralette-style blouse. Critics accuse the jewellery brand of mocking Hindu traditions and sexualising a sacred festival, while supporters argue the outrage is exaggerated and rooted in narrow ideas of decency.
ACTOR KRITI SANON’S latest Raksha Bandhan ad has sparked a fresh controversy, with several critics questioning her outfit choice in an advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA. The Raksha Bandhan ad, featuring the National Award-winning actress, has stirred controversy among netizens, with many slamming the jewellery brand for allegedly disrespecting Hindu traditions.
The ad was posted on GIVA’s official YouTube channel on August 17, 2026, featuring Kriti Sanon tying a rakhi not only to her brother but also to her pet dog. The ad was launched by the jewellery brand to promote its latest pet collection. However, Kriti Sanon’s outfit and the act of tying a rakhi on a dog did not sit well with many viewers, leading to the controversy.
The 35-second advertisement intended to show a lighthearted moment between siblings. In the ad, after Sanon ties a rakhi on her brother, she moves to tie another rakhi on her dog, which appears to be barking. Sanon takes out a dog-themed rakhi and ties it on the dog.
While some users pointed out Sanon’s bralette-style blouse, others slammed the act of tying a rakhi on a dog. Users also questioned the actress’ dressing style, which many called “modern” for an advertisement based on a traditional festival like Raksha Bandhan.
Some users dragged the jewellery brand through the mud for allegedly mocking Hindu traditions and demanded a boycott of the brand as well. While some users slammed the actress for her fashion choice, others defended the advertisement, claiming that critics were making a mountain out of a molehill.
GIVA is a jewellery company dealing in silver, gold, and lab-grown diamond collections. According to the brand’s official website, GIVA is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and has multiple stores across the country, with renowned faces such as Kriti Sanon endorsing the jewellery brand.
GIVA’s Raksha Bandhan ad has divided the internet over Kriti Sanon’s outfit and the dog’s role in it. One user on X called out the trolls who referred to Sanon’s outfit as similar to a “bikini” and responded, “She’s not dressed inappropriately. Maybe her outfit just doesn’t fit your definition of ‘decency.’ I could wear that in front of my brother too.”
Another X user slammed the brand, writing, “You won't see them making fun of either Eid or Christmas.” Many users alleged that the main aim was to give the brand publicity and that it eventually worked. While users chanted “#BoycottGIVA” and “Shame on Kriti Sanon,” one user wrote, “Outrageous mockery of sacred traditions.”
A user slammed the jewellery brand and wrote, “It’s not about the ‘choice of clothes’; it’s about the ‘choice of occasion.’ And people would have pointed that out about the guy as well if he was depicted in Jockey shorts in the ad or something like that.”
Following the controversy, Kriti Sanon and the makers of the ad have not issued any clarification. Kriti Sanon was last seen in Cocktail 2, starring alongside Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna.
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(Edited by Harsh Pandey)
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