Let’s get real. Indian fashion designers’ interest in taking a stand is limited to the aesthetic realm. A response, mostly calculated, towards diversity sometimes, or perhaps a support for sarees. But Anand Bhushan proved to be an exception to the limited-edition trend when the designer took to Twitter and Instagram yesterday to “pledge to never work with actor Kangana Ranaut in any capacity”. He didn’t stop just at the pledge. He also removed all publicity images with Ranaut from the brand’s social media channels. In an industry which basically runs on Bollywood endorsements, paid or otherwise, this assertion is nothing short of brave. And it’s not an unfamiliar adjective for Bhushan, as he says: “Our brand ethos is centred around brave women. In the past, we have associated with Kangana because we believed she was a credible actress, and dressed her for red carpet events and magazine cover shoots. We as a brand, however, do not support hate speech.” 

Designer Anand Bhushan