Kriti Sanon shared a message challenging the idea that a victim's clothing can be blamed for sexual assault, weeks after facing criticism over the outfit she wore in a Raksha Bandhan jewellery advertisement.
The 36-year-old actor reposted a quote to her Instagram Story on 29 September showing different forms of clothing alongside the question, 'Was it my fault?' The quote was attributed to Darshan Mondkar.
The repost referred to a short skirt, a burqa and a child's diaper. Sanon did not mention jewellery brand GIVA or say the Story was a response to the earlier controversy.
Her post followed an August dispute over a GIVA Raksha Bandhan campaign, during which some social media users criticised her clothing.
Kriti Sanon's outfit drew criticism
GIVA released its Raksha Bandhan campaign featuring Sanon on 20 July.
The actor appeared in an ivory Indo-Western outfit featuring a bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt.
Some social media users criticised the clothing as inappropriate for an advertisement associated with Raksha Bandhan. Other criticism from some users focused on the campaign's inclusion of a dog in the celebration.
Sanon responded to the criticism on 25 August, writing about the meaning of the festival and questioning the scrutiny of women's clothing.
'Also, when will we stop telling women what to wear??' she wrote. '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!'
GIVA withdrew the advertisement the following day.
'We have the highest regard and deep respect for Indian culture, traditions and festivals,' the company said, adding that it had withdrawn the campaign 'out of respect' after acknowledging that the advertisement may have inadvertently hurt some people's sentiments.
The company later said safety concerns surrounding its staff and stores also influenced the decision.
GIVA founder Ishendra Agarwal said the company remained aligned with Sanon on the campaign's 'intent and spirit' and had not changed its position on its message.
Agarwal said the video was removed after the situation around some stores escalated and created what he described as an 'unsafe environment' for on-ground teams.
'Was it my fault?'
Sanon's Sept. 29 Instagram Story did not name GIVA or refer directly to the Raksha Bandhan advertisement.
Instead, the repost challenged the idea that a victim's clothing can be blamed for sexual assault.
The quote attributed to Mondkar read: '"Was it my fault?" Asked the short skirt. "No, it happened to me too," replied the Burkha. The diaper in the corner couldn't even speak.'
Sanon shared the quote without adding a statement linking it to her own experience with the GIVA campaign.
She also liked another Instagram post questioning why women's clothing can generate widespread outrage while crimes against women do not always provoke the same reaction.
The post, which was not written by Sanon, referred to sexual assault, domestic violence and dowry deaths while questioning public scrutiny of women's clothing.
Sanon also speaks about women's safety
Sanon addressed women's safety in a Daughter's Day post on 27 September.
The actor described precautions women may take in everyday life, including sharing their live location, carrying pepper spray, booking a cab instead of walking at night and calling someone when they feel scared.
'From sharing her live location, to carrying pepper spray, to booking a cab instead of walking, or calling someone just to feel safer — we have forced her to make this her lifestyle,' Sanon wrote.
She also described circumstances she wanted women to be able to experience without fear, including walking home alone at night, sitting in a park after dark, wearing what they choose and using public transport.
'The day a daughter can walk home alone at night, sit in a park after dark, wear whatever the hell she wants, take public transport without fear, or simply exist in a public space without calculating the risk of being assaulted... That is the day we should celebrate Daughter's Day,' she wrote.
The post came after the August criticism of Sanon's GIVA advertisement, although Sanon has not said that the Daughter's Day message was prompted by the controversy.
The criticism of Sanon's clothing centred on whether her outfit was appropriate for a Raksha Bandhan campaign.
Sanon rejected the criticism at the time, writing, 'Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!'
