Lenskart Faces Backlash Over ‘Hijab Allowed, Bindi Banned’ Row, Peyush Bansal Responds
Nidhi | Apr 16, 2026, 15:43 IST
Mumbai, Oct 27 (ANI): CEO of Lenskart Peyush Bansal, during an event, in Mumbai...
Image credit : ANI
Lenskart has come under criticism after a screenshot of an alleged internal grooming guide went viral on social media, with users claiming it allowed some religious attire while restricting other visible symbols. The controversy centered on language in the document that allegedly permitted a black hijab and black turban for store staff, while saying bindi, sticker, and religious tilak/tikka were not allowed.
The screenshot triggered backlash online, with critics accusing the company of applying unequal standards to religious and cultural expression in the workplace. The issue gained traction after social media users, including public commentators, shared the page and questioned whether the rules discriminated against Hindu symbols while making exceptions for other forms of expression.
As the row intensified, Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal responded publicly. According to multiple reports, Bansal said the document being circulated was not an accurate reflection of Lenskart’s current policy. He described it as an outdated document and said employees currently have the freedom to wear bindi and tilak.
The Economic Times reported that Bansal also acknowledged a “language lapse” in the grooming policy and denied that Lenskart restricts religious symbols. He said the company’s actual position does not bar employees from expressing their faith through such markers.
The controversy has therefore turned on two separate issues: first, the contents of the viral screenshot itself, and second, Lenskart’s clarification that the circulated version does not represent the company’s present rules. As of the current reporting, the public backlash was driven by the viral document, while the company’s response has been to distance itself from that version and state that no such restriction exists in its current practice.
At this stage, the core verified facts are these: a document presented as a Lenskart staff grooming guide circulated online; the document’s language sparked accusations of bias; and Peyush Bansal has said the document is outdated, contained problematic wording, and does not reflect the company’s current policy on religious expression.
As the row intensified, Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal responded publicly. According to multiple reports, Bansal said the document being circulated was not an accurate reflection of Lenskart’s current policy. He described it as an outdated document and said employees currently have the freedom to wear bindi and tilak.
The Economic Times reported that Bansal also acknowledged a “language lapse” in the grooming policy and denied that Lenskart restricts religious symbols. He said the company’s actual position does not bar employees from expressing their faith through such markers.
The controversy has therefore turned on two separate issues: first, the contents of the viral screenshot itself, and second, Lenskart’s clarification that the circulated version does not represent the company’s present rules. As of the current reporting, the public backlash was driven by the viral document, while the company’s response has been to distance itself from that version and state that no such restriction exists in its current practice.
At this stage, the core verified facts are these: a document presented as a Lenskart staff grooming guide circulated online; the document’s language sparked accusations of bias; and Peyush Bansal has said the document is outdated, contained problematic wording, and does not reflect the company’s current policy on religious expression.