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Deepika Padukone Joins Abu Dhabi Tourism Drive as Abaya Shot Triggers Online Dispute

Supporters note she followed the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque’s dress code requiring full coverage for women.

Overview

  • Abu Dhabi’s tourism authority said Padukone has joined Ranveer Singh as a regional ambassador alongside the release of the “Mera Sukoon (my peace)” campaign.
  • The ad features the couple at city landmarks, including a brief scene of Padukone in an abaya at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque that drew polarized reactions on social media.
  • Multiple posts misidentified the garment as a hijab or burqa, but reports clarified she wore an abaya in line with visitor guidelines.
  • Critics invoked her 2015 “My Choice” video and some called for boycotts, while supporters argued she showed cultural sensitivity by following site protocol.
  • Opinion pieces described the backlash as selective and gendered, noting Singh faced far less criticism and that the dispute remains confined to online platforms with no official action reported.