Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has been served a legal notice over a Diwali social media post featuring a 30-carat emerald pendant engraved with Ayat-ul-Kursi, the 255th verse of the Quran. Congress leader Abbas Hafeez, acting in his personal capacity, has objected to the way the sacred inscription was presented and sought the removal of the photographs and videos, a public apology and an assurance that the verse will be presented with due religious sensitivity in future.
The jewellery was described by stylist Rhea Kapoor as an heirloom of the erstwhile Bhopal royal family that came through Kareena’s husband Saif Ali Khan’s family. However, Hindu Utsav Samiti president Chandrashekhar Tiwari has defended Kareena, saying she has no reason to apologise and that there should be no objection to wearing a religious symbol. Hafeez has stressed that his notice does not represent the Congress party’s official position. As of November 12, neither Kareena nor Rhea Kapoor had publicly responded to the notice.
Legal Notice Issued
The controversy followed photographs Kareena shared from her Diwali celebrations, in which she wore a beige kaftan, a matching turban and the emerald pendant. Rhea Kapoor, who styled the actor, described the jewellery as an heirloom of the Bhopal royal family. She identified the piece as the Begum of Bhopal’s 30-carat emerald, carved with Ayat-ul-Kursi, and said the jewellery came through Saif’s family.
Saif’s paternal grandmother, Sajida Sultan, was the daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal. The legal notice, dated November 11 and sent through advocate Mohammad Zafar, is addressed to both Kareena and Rhea Kapoor. It seeks removal of the relevant photographs, videos and social media posts, a public apology and an assurance that the Quranic inscription will not be presented in a manner that compromises its religious sanctity.
Faith And Heritage
Hafeez has said his objection is specifically to the presentation of the Quranic inscription and not to Kareena’s clothing, personal choices or her decision to celebrate Diwali. According to the notice, the overall presentation of an item bearing Ayat-ul-Kursi should, in his view, reflect the reverence due to a sacred Quranic inscription. Hafeez has also argued that the pendant is connected to the Islamic heritage of the Begums of Bhopal and should not be treated simply as a fashion accessory.
However, claims about the pendant’s original religious purpose and its historical use are being made by Hafeez and should be understood as his position, rather than established historical fact. The notice also refers to differing views among Islamic scholars about wearing Quranic verses as jewellery and stresses the importance of preserving the sanctity of such inscriptions.
Contrasting Reactions
The notice has drawn a sharply different response from Hindu Utsav Samiti president Chandrashekhar Tiwari, who has defended Kareena and rejected the demand for an apology. Tiwari said there was no reason to object to her wearing the pendant and suggested that the controversy may have been influenced by the fact that the photographs were shared around Diwali. Meanwhile, Hafeez has reiterated that he acted as an individual and not on behalf of the Congress.
His lawyer has indicated that further legal remedies, including possible police or court action, could be considered if the demands are not met; however, the notice itself does not amount to a court proceeding. As of November 12, no such subsequent legal action had been reported, and Kareena and Rhea had not publicly responded.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Religious symbols can carry deep spiritual, cultural and emotional significance, and concerns about their treatment deserve to be heard with sensitivity. At the same time, disagreements over faith, fashion or personal expression should not become an excuse for hostility or communal polarisation. This controversy also highlights the importance of distinguishing between established history and individual interpretations of religious and cultural heritage.
In a diverse society, celebrities, political representatives and community organisations all have a responsibility to approach sensitive questions with restraint, empathy and respect. Dialogue should create room for different perspectives without turning disagreement into division. Can conversations around faith, heritage and personal expression help us understand each other’s sensitivities better rather than deepen existing divides?
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