he called for the immediate deletion of the photographs
Kareena Kapoor has become embroiled in a controversy over her Diwali outfit after a Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson issued a legal notice alleging that a pendant she wore had hurt religious sentiments.
Abbas Hafeez has sent the notice to Kareena and her stylist, Rhea Kapoor, objecting to the actor wearing a necklace featuring a verse from the Quran.
He has demanded that photographs of the outfit be removed from social media and that both parties issue a public apology.
It is reported that the controversy began after Kareena shared pictures of her traditional Diwali look on social media.
Online discussions subsequently focused on a pendant believed to feature Ayat-ul-Kursi, a revered verse from the Quran.
Hafeez argued that using sacred Quranic verses as a fashion statement and pairing them with certain outfits could hurt religious sentiments.
In his legal notice, he called for the immediate deletion of the photographs and an unconditional public apology.
He also clarified that he had taken the action in his personal capacity as a Muslim and that the Congress party had no involvement in the matter.
Hafeez has warned that he will pursue further legal action through the police or courts if the photographs are not removed and an apology is not issued.
Kareena’s Diwali look, shared by Rhea on social media, featured a pure silver kaftan and matching turban by designer Punit Balana.
In her Instagram post, Rhea wrote: “Kareena in a pure chandi kaftan and turban by Punit Balana, wearing a 200-year-old kalgi from the Nawab of Bhopal and the Begum of Bhopal’s 30-carat emerald, carved with the ‘Ayat-ul-Kursi’.”
The actor accessorised the outfit with a 200-year-old kalgi that once belonged to the Nawab of Bhopal, alongside a 30-carat emerald necklace associated with the Begum of Bhopal.
The emerald is carved with Ayat-ul-Kursi, which has become the focus of the controversy.
Both pieces are heirlooms from the Bhopal royal family and have passed down through Saif Ali Khan’s side of the family. His grandmother, Sajida Sultan, was the daughter of the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal.
Neither Kareena nor Rhea has issued an official response to the legal notice or the allegations so far.
On the work front, Kareena’s last theatrical release was Daayra (2026), a crime thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar, in which she starred alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran.
She will next appear in a song sequence in Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming action thriller King.
