A fresh flashpoint has emerged in the ongoing controversy around Lenskart’s dress code after BJP minority morcha leader Nazia Elahi Khan entered the company’s Mumbai store on Monday, confronted staff, and applied tilak on several employees. The development comes even as the company has already issued a clarification stating that all symbols of faith are permitted at the workplace.
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The manager, identified as Mohsin Khan in the video, denies the claims. However, Khan continues to press him, alleging selective restrictions on Hindu practices while allowing Islamic attire such as hijab.
During the interaction, she calls forward employees and asks them to identify themselves before applying tilak on several staff members inside the store.
“There is no shame in bearing one. Even I have one even though I am a Muslim,” she says in the video.
Soon after, Khan posted on X, strongly backing her actions and urging Hindus not to compromise on their identity at workplaces.
"Tilak is your pride, Hindu! Kalaava is your Sankar, Hindu! Sanatan is your identity, Hindu! The slogan of Har Har Mahadev is your pride, Hindus! Work at Lenskart or Air India! Wherever you live, or work never compromise your identity, Hindus!"
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The video and her post have since circulated widely, fuelling sharp reactions online.
Critics called the policy discriminatory and questioned whether it aligned with constitutional protections on religious expression.
It stated that the revised policy will “explicitly and unambiguously welcome every symbol of faith and culture,” including bindi, tilak, sindoor, hijab and turban.
The company also apologised for any confusion caused earlier, saying: "If any version of our workplace communication caused hurt or made any of our team members feel that their faith was unwelcome, we are deeply sorry."
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The controversy has once again put workplace dress codes under scrutiny, especially in a diverse country like India where identity and expression often intersect with corporate policies. With political voices now stepping into the debate, the issue is no longer limited to company guidelines but has expanded into a larger conversation around rights, representation, and sensitivity at work.
BJP leader enters store, applies tilak
The incident unfolded after a video surfaced online showing Khan arriving at a Lenskart outlet with members of her team. In the clip, she asks to meet the store manager and questions him over allegations that Hindu employees were discouraged from wearing religious symbols like tilak.Also Read: Archana Puran Singh’s Ayurvedic Routine: No meetha, no maida, dinner by 7, what the 63-year-old actor did during her 15-day wellness reset
The manager, identified as Mohsin Khan in the video, denies the claims. However, Khan continues to press him, alleging selective restrictions on Hindu practices while allowing Islamic attire such as hijab.
During the interaction, she calls forward employees and asks them to identify themselves before applying tilak on several staff members inside the store.
“There is no shame in bearing one. Even I have one even though I am a Muslim,” she says in the video.
Social media post amplifies message
Soon after, Khan posted on X, strongly backing her actions and urging Hindus not to compromise on their identity at workplaces.
"Tilak is your pride, Hindu! Kalaava is your Sankar, Hindu! Sanatan is your identity, Hindu! The slogan of Har Har Mahadev is your pride, Hindus! Work at Lenskart or Air India! Wherever you live, or work never compromise your identity, Hindus!"
Also Read: Served 14 tequila shots on a cruise, what happened next shocked the court, Rs 3 crore compensation awarded
The video and her post have since circulated widely, fuelling sharp reactions online.
What triggered the controversy
The latest episode is linked to an earlier backlash over Lenskart’s alleged internal style guide. Screenshots shared on social media appeared to suggest restrictions on certain religious symbols like tilak and bindi, while laying out separate guidelines for hijabs and turbans.Critics called the policy discriminatory and questioned whether it aligned with constitutional protections on religious expression.
Company responds, promises clarity
Amid mounting criticism, Lenskart issued a clarification distancing itself from the allegations. The company said its guidelines do not restrict religious identity and would be updated to remove any ambiguity.It stated that the revised policy will “explicitly and unambiguously welcome every symbol of faith and culture,” including bindi, tilak, sindoor, hijab and turban.
The company also apologised for any confusion caused earlier, saying: "If any version of our workplace communication caused hurt or made any of our team members feel that their faith was unwelcome, we are deeply sorry."
Also Read: No protein shakes, just home-cooked meals: Construction worker tells how he got a chiselled body through rice and sambar. Watch
The controversy has once again put workplace dress codes under scrutiny, especially in a diverse country like India where identity and expression often intersect with corporate policies. With political voices now stepping into the debate, the issue is no longer limited to company guidelines but has expanded into a larger conversation around rights, representation, and sensitivity at work.
