Kareena Kapoor Khan gets legal notice over Ayat-ul-Kursi pendant

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has landed in controversy over her royal jewellery, with a 30-carat emerald pendant from the Bhopal royal family now becoming the centre of a religious debate. What was initially admired as a stunning piece of family heritage has now invited a legal notice, with questions being raised over the actress wearing a Quran-inscribed pendant at a Diwali celebration.

Congress leader Abbas Hafeez has issued a legal notice to Kareena and celebrity stylist Rhea Kapoor, alleging that the manner in which the pendant was displayed hurt religious sentiments. The notice reportedly demands the removal of the photographs from social media and a public apology.

However, the controversy has now taken another turn after lawyer and political analyst Imran Ahmad Ali questioned the actress’s decision to wear the sacred inscription at a party.

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‘Would you wear it to a party or a prayer?’

During a discussion on News18’s Brass Tacks, hosted by journalist Nabila Jamal, lawyer Imran Ahmad Ali argued that the religious significance of the pendant should have been considered before wearing it to a social gathering.

According to Imran, the fact that the pendant is a family heirloom does not change the religious sentiments associated with the Quranic verse engraved on it.

He maintained that wearing jewellery containing sacred religious text to a party could hurt the sentiments of believers and warned that Kareena would have to answer questions in court.

Kareena Kapoor gets legal notice from Congress leader over Quran-inscribed royal pendant@sujatapandeyb Political Analyst & Imran Ahmad Ali Lawyer & Political Analyst joins the conversation#BrassTacks | @nabilajamal_ #KareenaKapoor #KareenaKapoorControversy #AbbasHafeez… pic.twitter.com/hvspjuFNba

— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 11, 2026

However, anchor Nabila Jamal presented a different perspective.

Defending the actress, Nabila pointed out that the pendant featured a beautiful Quranic verse and that Kareena was wearing it close to her chest, suggesting that the gesture could also be viewed as one of respect rather than disrespect.

Imran, however, was unconvinced. “Would you wear it to a party or wear it to a prayer?” he countered, questioning whether a religious inscription should be treated as an accessory for a social occasion.

The exchange highlighted two contrasting perspectives, with one side questioning the appropriateness of the occasion and the other arguing that wearing a sacred verse close to one’s heart does not necessarily amount to disrespect.

Political analyst Sujata Pandey was also part of the discussion.

What is special about Kareena’s royal pendant?

The jewellery that has sparked the controversy is no ordinary Bollywood accessory.

Kareena wore the 30-carat emerald pendant during her Diwali celebrations, pairing it with a beige kaftan and turban designed by Punit Balana.

Celebrity stylist Rhea Kapoor revealed that the emerald originally belonged to the Begum of Bhopal and features Ayat-ul-Kursi, the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah in the Quran.

The pendant is part of the royal heritage of Kareena’s husband, actor Saif Ali Khan. His grandmother, Sajida Sultan, was the daughter of Bhopal’s last ruling Nawab, Hamidullah Khan.

Kareena also wore a 200-year-old royal kalgi associated with the Nawab of Bhopal, making her festive appearance a tribute to the family’s history.

What does the legal notice say?

According to the reports, Congress leader Abbas Hafeez issued the notice on November 11 in his individual capacity, objecting specifically to the presentation of the sacred inscription rather than Kareena’s personal clothing choices.

The notice seeks the removal of the photographs and videos featuring the pendant, along with a public apology and an assurance that religious inscriptions will be treated with appropriate reverence.

While the complainant has alleged that the presentation hurt religious sentiments, there has been no reported court ruling establishing that Kareena committed any wrongdoing.

As the debate continues, the controversy has raised a larger question about the intersection of religious symbolism, royal heritage and celebrity fashion.

Kareena Kapoor Khan has not publicly responded to the legal notice at the time of writing.

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