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Kareena Kapoor Khan and celebrity stylist Rhea Kapoor have been served a legal notice over Kapoor Khan's Diwali look in which the actress wore a pendant identified as a historic heirloom of the erstwhile Bhopal royal family. The pendant is inscribed with Ayat-ul-Kursi—a verse from the Quran.
The notice was sent by Abbas Hafeez, a Bhopal-based political leader, who has asked Khan and Kapoor to publicly apologise to the Muslim community. Rhea Kapoor was included in the notice in her capacity as the stylist who put together the look and described the pendant publicly as a Bhopal royal heirloom. The pendant in question is a 30-carat emerald piece whose religious inscription has become the focal point of the objection.
Ayat-ul-Kursi, the verse transcribed on the pendant, is the 255th verse of the second chapter of the Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah.
Kapoor Khan's ensemble comprised of a beige kaftan paired with a matching turban, which carried a sparkling kalgi. The kalgi was worn by her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan, on his wedding day. As part of the outfit, the actor styled the kaftan and turban with the emerald, originally belonging to the Begum of Bhopal, and one that was passed down to her following her marriage to Ali Khan.
According to his notice, the leader has no quarrel with Kareena’s clothes or her freedom to wear jewellery. The complaint is largely about how a sacred inscription was presented as a fashion accessory in a festive social media post, according to The New Indian Express. The notice reportedly stated, “Islamic scholars have expressed reservations about wearing Quranic verses as jewellery. Their guidance emphasises preserving the sanctity of such inscriptions and avoiding circumstances in which they may be treated disrespectfully; some scholars advise avoiding the practice altogether. Religious views may differ, and any specific scholarly position should be supported by an appropriate reference."
Rhea Kapoor took to Instagram to share images of the evening and the breakdown of the ensemble. Her post read, "Real movie star, real chandi, real heirlooms and real personal style. 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."
Highlighting the details of the jewellery, Kapoor continued, "Heirlooms of the Bhopal royal family, Kareena’s own. These pieces come through Saif’s family: his grandmother, Sajida Sultan, was the daughter of the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal."
As of November 12, Kapoor Khan has not issued a public response to the notice. Her representatives have also not issued a statement.
Kapoor Khan also shared pictures of her outfit from the evening, writing, "Diwali is all about traditions done right".