After Kareena’s locket controversy, Deepika’s ‘Fi Amanillah’ necklace becomes a topic of discussion

Bangla Press Desk :  Amid the controversy surrounding an emerald locket—engraved with verses from the Holy Quran—worn by Kareena Kapoor Khan during Diwali, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has also come into the spotlight. An image of a specific piece of jewelry worn by Deepika at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival has resurfaced on social media. The piece featured an inscription in Arabic: "Fi Amanillah," which translates to "Under God’s protection."

Deepika served as a jury member at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where she wore a unique piece designed by renowned Indian fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. The item was part of Sabyasachi’s "Tropic of Calcutta" collection—a resort fashion series that blends Indian tradition with modern design.

Deepika paired the necklace, titled "Lucknow Rose," with a Western-style outfit. Crafted from gemstones and uncut diamonds, the piece drew inspiration from the design of a *Maharani* (queen’s) necklace. One of the stones bore the Arabic inscription "Fi Amanillah." While the piece had previously been recognized simply as a fashion accessory, it has returned to the spotlight following the recent controversy involving Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The controversy surrounding Kareena Kapoor Khan stems from an emerald locket she wore during Diwali. The 30-carat locket reportedly featured an inscription of *Ayat al-Kursi* from the Holy Quran. For the Diwali celebration, Kareena wore an outfit featuring silver *gota-patti* work, designed by Puneet Balana, complemented by a beige-colored turban. The antique-style emerald locket served as a key highlight of her ensemble. Kareena’s stylist, Rhea Kapoor, noted that the piece belonged to the royal family of Bhopal.

Following this, a legal notice was issued to both Kareena Kapoor Khan and her stylist, Rhea Kapoor, on November 11. According to media reports, Abbas Hafeez, a spokesperson for the Madhya Pradesh Congress, sent the notice through his lawyer. He clarified, however, that he took this action in his personal capacity as a member of the Muslim community, rather than as a representative of the Congress party.
The notice objects to the use of verses from the Holy Quran as fashion accessories, stating that such usage could hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. For Muslims, *Ayatul Kursi* is considered highly sacred and revered; it is also recited as part of religious prayers.

The notice demands that Kareena and Rhea Kapoor remove the images and videos of the pendant from their social media accounts and issue a public apology. It also seeks an assurance that due respect will be shown toward religious verses in the future.

Meanwhile, new information has emerged regarding the pendant worn by Kareena. It is not an ordinary piece of jewelry, but rather a traditional heirloom inherited from the royal family of the Nawabs of Bhopal. The piece is linked to the family of the *Begums* who governed Bhopal for over a century. According to reports, the jewelry came into Saif Ali Khan’s family through Sajida Sultan, the daughter of the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan. Sajida Sultan was Saif’s paternal grandmother; consequently, following her marriage into the Pataudi family, Kareena has had access to the family’s collection of royal jewelry.
Amid the controversy surrounding the legal notice, several organizations in Bhopal have extended their support to Kareena. Reports indicate that the *Hindu Utsav Samiti* and *Sanskriti Bachao Manch* have stood by the actress. Chandrashekhar Tiwari, president of the *Hindu Utsav Samiti*, has opposed the demand for an apology from Kareena.

According to reports from *The Indian Express* and *Brut India*, neither Kareena Kapoor Khan nor Rhea Kapoor has issued an official statement on the matter. However, amidst the controversy surrounding Kareena’s Diwali attire, images of old jewelry worn by Deepika [Padukone] have also begun circulating on social media. Consequently, the use of religious messages and symbols in the jewelry worn by the two actresses has become a subject of discussion.